Just wanted to let you all know, I had a lot, and I mean a lot, of issues with certain parts of this film in terms of copyright. Like I have no idea what the RU-vid Gods had against me but I had to export/upload/fix this 4 times because of some sort of weird copyright issue that I couldn't get past. Very weird, very random, but the "fix" for it appears at 25:27, 26:35, 27:59 for small chunks of time, so apologies in advance for those. I've never experienced such a weird copyright claim before and it annoyed the hell out of me.
Haha no problem! I tried to distort the audio completely and it just wasn't working somehow. So I was like "F it, caption it and take the audio out." One of the most insane times I've had doing videos.
No worries! Your solution for this is probably how everyone should handle copyright strikes, because most copyright strikes are primarily related to the audio anyway. I know I can’t imagine why the dialogue in that particular section would result in strikes. I can only guess that the studio put some sort of signal in the audio track that flags it, as a way of combatting piracy. 🤷🏽♂️
Yeah, knowing that WWII just happened a few years prior to the movie, and how the mother has obviously adopted the girl should be enough context. That and the post office scene are my two favorites in the entire movie. The ‘94 version making the girl deaf isn’t as effective, because an old man who could’ve arguably spent a lot of time around kids may have picked up a little ASL. In comparison, an old man that is deeply knowledgable about the mythology of Saint Nicholas, the cultural traditions of several nations (including Scandinavian nations that celebrate Yule), and can fluently speak foreign languages on demand is far more inspiring. It’s similar to Brad Pitt’s performance in “Meet Joe Black” where he meets the elderly Jamaican woman. The cultural disconnect makes it so much more effective a shock to the audience.
It's quite impressive that the movie includes a whole scene in another language without subtitles. Here's how it goes: Kris: Hallo! ik ben blij dat je gekomen bent! (Hello! I’m glad you came!) Girl: O, u bent Sinterklaas! (Oh, you are Santa Claus!) Kris: Jazeker! (Yes, surely!) Girl: Ik wist dat u het zou begrijpen! (I knew you would understand!) Kris: Natuurlijk! Zeg maar wat je zou willen hebben. (Naturally! Tell me what you’d like to have.) Girl: Niets; ik heb van alles. Ik wil alléén maar bij deze lieve dame zijn. (Nothing; I have everything. I just want to be with this nice lady.) Kris: Wil je een liedje voor me zingen? (Would you like to sing me a little song?) Both (singing): Sinterklaas kapoentje, (Santa Claus, you rascal,) Geef wat in mijn schoentje, (Give me something in my shoe,) Geef wat in mijn laarsje, (Give me something in my boot,) Dank u, Sinterklaasje! (Thank you, Santa Claus!)
One thing that I think a lot of people miss as well is that as filmed in 47, as a little Dutch girl, it's doubtless that she's a Nazi refugee, likely orphaned and adopted by an American family to escape the horror, as it's not that long after Rotterdam which was virtually leveled by the Germans, forcing a surrender after 5 days, and starting the horrors of the Nazi regime in the Netherlands exterminating a chunk of the population for being Jewish or an "enemy of the state", being killed by either side for suspected collaboration, or bombed by either side. So she's grateful to Santa for having a home and someone who cares about her after the events of 45 in the Netherlands in the safety of America.
Oh, thank you so much for this! Been familiar with this classic for over 60 years now, and never knew what they were saying. Here's a true story : some years ago I had a co-worker who I found out was of Dutch ancestry. So, one day, from out of nowhere, I started to sing Santa's little children's song while she was nearby. So help me I thought she was going to fall over! She simply couldn't believe her ears. Couldn't figure out how I could possibly know the song!
This is my dad's favorite Christmas movie because of that scene with the little Dutch girl. His parents immigrated to the US and he grew up in NYC, but didn't speak English until he was old enough to start school and was teased by other students and even teachers. He saw himself in that isolated child and he cries every year when we watch this movie! It perfectly shows Santa as a friend to all children and I personally think this is the best "Santa" in film or television.
Awww. One of my great-grandmas (Dad's mom's mom) was similar. Her parents immigrated to the US from Norway, settling in the Upper Midwest. She only knew Norwegian when she started school and was teased so bad that, when Grandma started to reach school age, she *forbade* anyone from speaking anything but English in the house. Grandma resented this as she'd been learning both Norwegian and English just fine up until that point and after that point forgot all but how to count to ten in Norwegian. Also, whole-heartedly agree on this being the best "Santa."
@@brigidtheirish omg the generational trauma of restricting language! I was the only grandkid who spoke French because of this fear, but then my dad got so scared when I was in kindergarten and he stopped teaching me. Even though I spoke English too. Now I'm working to relearn it almost from scratch.
@@valerie3677 I know! Grandma never managed to relearn and, from what I understand, Great-Grandma refused to speak another word of Norwegian again in her life despite her English always being a bit shaky. I tried to learn some, but I've found that I struggle a great deal learning *any* language.
The woman who complained that Marcy's didn't have the toy for her son was Thelma Ritter, in her first (and uncredited) role. She went on to play herself in dozens of movies and tv shows, including Hitchcock's Rear Window.
She wasn't quite 'playing herself', she just played the same role over and over: The tough, hard-working but decent working class broad/maid/housekeeper etc. As a very solid character actor, she was a popular choice not just within the studio system, but with top directors, too, who admired her charismatic nature.
@@vercoda9997 I've never seen her speak "normally" in an interview, so if it was just a role, she made it seem so natural. Part of it, too, was the strong Brooklyn accent, which at the time was distinct from how people tended to speak in Manhattan.
There was apparently a debate during filming between director George Seaton and writer Valentine Davies as to whether or not Kris was 'actually Santa' (Seaton's position) or whether he was just a well-meaning and kindly old man who thought he was Santa (Davies' position). I think the result is that there's this great ambiguity that leaves it up to the viewer to make that determination for themselves, as opposed to the 1994 remake where its pretty much established from minute number one that Attenborough's Kris IS Santa for sure (the remake also goes out of its way to establish outright antagonists or "villains" out to get innocent Kris whereas the original's main villain is not Mr. Sawyer but rather cynicism in general - and Kris is in some ways depicted as being his own worst enemy in this version).
I wish more reactors would tackle her movies, especially Splendor in the Grass, her best performance, or Great Race, for her most...uh...fun? The latter is worth a watch, if only for the biggest pie fight in Hollywood history!
Awesome reaction, Sam! I grew up watching this beautiful film every year on television and I’ve loved it since I was “knee-high to a grasshopper,” as they say. To me it’s one of the annual Christmas must-see movies and TV specials, one that really captures the Christmas spirit. 🎄 A double feature of this with IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) is great Christmas Eve programming for every home!
This was a favorite movie of mine and I haven't watched it in quite a while. It was nice to rediscover it through your first-time viewing. I'm so happy that you enjoyed the charm of it too.
Santa feels very sophisticated and intellectually stimulating in a way in this film. He’s like a weird mix between that cooky fun uncle mixed with grandpa and a philosopher. Best Santa on film.
When I was in high school, my cousin and I worked in the Santa booth at Lexington Mall. One evening, Santa called in sick, so we needed someone to fill in. After calling all of our friends, to no avail, I called my daddy. I asked him to check at his bank office for some underpaid teller who wanted some extra cash. Within the hour, my daddy suited up and became one of the best Santas the mall had ever seen. He stayed with us through the season. Even after I left home, he continued to play Santa in the mall, moving to Fayette Mall. Mom made him a beautiful velvet Santa suit and she made herself a Mrs. Claus outfit. Until the year before he died, my daddy played Santa for church, the Lion's Club, Rotary Club, and for friends and family. The photo is him with my first born. When someone asks if I believe in Santa, I say of course, he's my Daddy.
I always love seeing Jack Albertson as the guy working in the Post Office sorting mail. Anyone else remember the 1974's sitcom "Chico and the Man" set in East L.A. that ran for 4 seasons? He also played Grandpa Joe in 1971's "Willie Wonka."
I LOVE this movie. When I was a kid this movie always came on right after the Macy's T'giving Parade, which was a perfect time to air it since the movie begins with the Macy's T'giving Parade, then they started airing the Nat'l Dog Show right after the Parade & I was so disappointed. So glad you liked it. Sorry you had so many copyright issues with it.
The postal worker who comes up with the idea to send the letters to the courthouse is played by Jack Albertson, best known today as Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
We love this movie. There's another movie from the same year called It Happened on Fifth Avenue, and is a Christmas movie, too. Nice ensemble cast and a feel good movie. Post-war there were many movies with feel-good outcomes.
To the audiences at the time, the little Dutch girl who "just came over" would have been understood to probably be an orphan whose who family had been slaughtered during the War. And here she was, in a foreign land, living with complete strangers, and few who spoke her language.
There's a reason why Edmund Gwenn (Kris Kringle) won the Oscar for this. His warm portrayal of Santa is delightful! On my top 5 list of Christmas movies to watch each year. Another delightful Edmund Gwenn hidden gem is "Mister 880". Give it a watch if you find the time.
I adore the fact that this movie focuses on the *belief* associated with Santa Claus. I may not celebrate Christmas in a religious sense but I will argue until the day I die about Santa's existence. HE'S REAL!!!! 🎅
As a kid, I even came up with a detailed theory regarding how he manages to visit all the kids in the world. It involved time zones, particular family traditions regarding opening gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, and as I learned of them, different cultural traditions having gift-giving on a day other than Christmas.
My freshman year my mom found an old copy of this book. So mom, my sister, and I took turns reading it out loud. That will always be one of my favorite holiday memories.
This film was actually released in May, as the summertime was such a bigger cash grabber for movies even back then. This led to a quite amusing trailer that's trying so hard to hide that it's about Santa Claus (and misspells the word "groovy" in an awkward attempt to relate to kids of the time). Though funnily enough, it actually did so well that it was still in theaters when Christmas actually rolled around.
Glad you're looking into some of the older ones, they're some of the better ones. I would suggest White Christmas if you haven't seen it yet, there's actually some good banter between Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
At the time this movie was releases, probably most people would take the title as having a double meaning, the first meaning referring to the then legendary feud between two of America's biggest department stores. (And who faced off each other across 34th St.) There used to be an iconic saying "Would Macy tell Gimbel's?" That Kris was able to get the two CEO's to shake hands was obvious "miracle" and that this might be the real Santa a secondary one.
Story time: in 1999, my marching band brought Santa Claus across the front of Macy’s store front in the parade. I’d seen this movie a thousand times (I was exposed to classic cinema very early), and actually being there in person? This movie hits different.
released in 1947, the little Dutch girl was likely portraying a WW2 orphan brought to be a foster or adopted child. Kris Kringle speaking Dutch to the little girl was another "Santa Claus" coincidence. I see others noticed the little dutch girl. good, one of very best scenes ever in holiday movies. It was well-acted, and not so artificially sweet; the drunk Santa and other not-so-perfect characters. just the right 'naughty or nice" for a holiday movie
Loved it! Loved your post-film remarks! Totally spot-on. You know what's funny about this movie? It was originally released in June! Ha! It was not released during the Christmas season, inexplicably. PS: So sorry you had troubles with the uploading, but you covered it well with that music and the subtitles! It's so random, especially that first section. Why would THAT be the part that got blocked? Who knows. All I know is you did a fine job covering those sections. THANKS, SAM!!!! :)
A truly cute movie with a really fun story. Santa for adults. Thanks for reacting to this. It has become a real Christmas Classic at least as much as "It's a Wonderful Life" and "The Bishops Wife". I am particularly partial to the 1984 "Christmas Carol" with George C. Scott. Have fun with this one.
I believe there was a big deal getting nothing Macy's and Gimble's to agree to be depicted in this film this way. They both wouldn't give permission until seeing the final film. They both liked it. Introducing the late Natalie Wood. Until the wrap party, she actually thought he was Santa. He won an Oscar for this. All the parade footage was from the real 1946 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade and Edmund Gwynn played Santa for it.
"Faith is believing things when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles." Fun Fact: Unbeknownst to most parade watchers, Edmund Gwenn played Santa Claus in the actual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held on November 28, 1946. Lost In Translation Fact: In the untranslated dialogue with the Dutch girl, Kris asks her what she wants for Christmas. She says she wants nothing, telling him she got her gift by being adopted by her new mother. Retailers United Fact: Both Macy's and Gimbel's were approached by the producers for permission to have them depicted in the film. Both wanted to see the finished film first before they gave approval. If either had refused, the film would have had to been extensively edited and re-shot to eliminate the references. Fortunately, at the test viewing both were pleased with the film and gave their permission.
To be fair to the drunk Santa, maybe he was doing a British version as we do not leave milk and coolies out, we put out mince pies and some form of alcohol.
In the background of this movie was the dramatic shift in American society after WWII to move from urban apartment living to the "idealized" home in suburbia. The same can be seen over the course of the I Love Lucy tv series. Speaking of I Love Lucy, the political hack advising the judge was William Frawley, who became best known as Fred Mertz of Fred and Ethyl fame.
Nice video Sam. If you're in for another classic that's been redone several times over the years do the original "A Christmas Carol" (1938), based on the Charles Dickens novella. BTW, i know it was a lot of trouble getting this video done and appreciate the texting! Hope it works better with this one. 😉👍
I haven't seen this in years! It is a great, feel-good Christmas movie! We all need to believe in something. I'm glad you reacted to this. I enjoyed watching this again, thank you. Merry Christmas! ☮
Great reaction! Other wonderful Christmas movies to watch: THE BISHOP’S WIFE and SCROOGE, the musical version with bc Albert Finney, the best version, I believe.
I've always liked this movie. Like you say a very warm hearted movie and I loved that Santa had his day in court. I thought your work around to the copyright issue was great. Most of us have seen the movie before and as long as we know what's happening in the scene such as with captioning and can see your reaction to it is that matters. Great job! Keep it up!
Thanks for reacting to Miracle on 34th Street, Sam I recommend you to watch one of the greatest christmas movies of all time It's A Wonderful Life (1946) you will love it!
Threw was a remake to the movie in 1994 starring Richard Attenborough, John Hammond of Jurassic Park, Elizabeth Perkins from The Flintstones, Mara Wilson from Mrs. Doubtfire, and Dylan McDermott from the hit action thriller In The Line Of Fire.
I love old movies especially but must admit that I only know the remake with Sir Richard Attenborough RIP, he was also a great Santa. Don't know exactley why but...I have a big smile on my face watching this movie with you...I think it's..the simple things in life. But don't forget to watch the "Krampus" movie from 2015.. about a pretty nasty german folklore spirit from pre christian age..
Ho ho ho Sam! So glad you got experience this picture. Ed Gwenn is the best Sandy Claws I've seen. Little Natalie Wood, big Maureen O'Hara, John Payne. JP lots of westerns and a cute movie with Olympian Sonja Henie and I think Glen Miller music."sun valley serenade". Maureen O'Hara made about a thousand movies with John Wayne. I think she made at least one more movie with Maureen and was dubbed in "Westside story ". I don't know how to tell you this but, I've been seeing other reactors. One in particular a cute light haired girl with an adorable on screen accent "DM" released this very movie last week. And now hear me out. Her intro to her reaction says something I had never heard anyone say in this movie. During her viewing it happens when Kris goes to bonk Sawyer. Nuff said, Merry Christmas.
So glad you watched this video. I really enjoyed your commentary and I think you are right. Now adays, we all need a little positivity put back into our lives. There is so much negativity and cycnicism now. I really feel for the younger generations such as yourself who are trying to live positive lives amongst the present climate. Thank you again for watching this movie and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
This is my favorite Christmas movie but its not played as much as others it seems. I don’t mind the Mara Wilson remake. It has some differences with the ending and the girl Santa communicates with, its just more modernized for the 90s. But this one is still my favorite
Due respect to those who prefer Wonderful Life, but this is the one I grew up with and still watch almost every year to get myself in the spirit. I much prefer other Jimmy Stewart movies and Edmund Gwenn (best supporting actor for the role) is brilliant in this one, plus eight y/o Natalie Wood and Thelma Ritter's first film appearance tip the scales for me.
I’m afraid I’ve never really connected with It’s a Wonderful Life. The protagonist is so moody and temperamental when we are first introduced to him, plus the “joke” he plays on someone in one particular scene which in my opinion is not very sporting- I just don’t find him a sympathetic character.
@@StoryMing It's a Wonderful Life may aesthetically be the better film but its also a little overlong and pretentious compared to Miracle which is just wholesome without trying to pretend to be something its not.
I like to use this classic to prove to some sceptics that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Some of them have the silly argument that Die Hard was a summer blockbuster released at the wrong time of the year to be a Christmas movie. Well, this one had its premiere in June or July (can't remember off the top of my head) and is one of the most Christmassy movies ever. I have won some over on that technicality. "It's not Christmas until Hans..." Wait a minute! You haven't reacted to Die Hard, have you? So I won't finish that quote, in case I spoil it for you. If you haven't seen it, it's about time. It's most definitely a Christmas movie! Great reaction BTW.
I've also seen people say Die Hard's plot isn't about Christmas. Well, the new film Violent Night is basically the same exact plot and it's definitely a Christmas movie.
So now that you have met Kris, I will again plug Angela Lansbury, in and as Mrs Santa Claus. OH! And on the theme of belief- while I realize you haven’t done too many animated films- you might also like to check out Rise of the Guardians.
Of course this film is total fantasy.. Santa doesn't live in New York when he's not delivering presents . lives with his wife and Elves at the north Pole and he vacations on a special island near the Caribbean.. That's a fact kids..
Hi Sam :) The one thing I eondered... If Mr. Gaily marries a Susan's mom after the movie, will Sudan keep calling him Uncle Fred? :) Merry Christmas, young lady :)
COPYRIGHTS!!! AUUUUGGGHHH!!! I don't think RU-vid has a clue. I go through these reactions and they're all different, because everybody get's hit with different sh!t. BTW, your solution was très cool and the overall edit was fantastic as usual.
This is really a much more edgy and cynical movie than its reputation suggests. Santa/Kris is literally the only character who's not just out for himself, and while that changes for a few others by the end, it's not many. Even the way he gets legally declared as Santa is just due to some mail workers who didn't really care about the issue and just wanted to make their jobs easier.
Edmund Gwenn heartily deserved his Academy Award for this. He was one of the all time great character actors. He was in scores of films and great in all of them, but you really should check out the wonderful "Lassie" films he made at MGM, especially the first, "Lassie Come Home" 1943, and "Hills Of Home" 1948 in which he receives top billing and carries the film.
@@xbubblehead Thank you! You're quite right. I don't know how that didn't occur to me when I was writing my comment. The Lockharts were a talented family.
I don't see that you have reacted to It's A Wonderful Life. If you haven't seen it, it will bring even more tears of happiness, and in my opinion, a perfect companion to this movie (although the subject matter is quite different).
"I get that point of view, but where's the fun in that?" There is no fun, that's the point. The bigger point is that you almost *can't* become a full adult without these stories. "Children are meant to grow up and not to become Peter Pans. Not to lose innocence and wonder; but proceed on the appointed journey: that journey upon which it is certainly not better to travel hopefully and to arrive, but that we must travel hopefully *if* we are to arrive. But it is one of the lessons of fairy stories (if we can speak of the lessons of things that do not lecture) that on callow, lumpish, and selfish youth peril, sorrow, and the wisdom of death can bestow dignity, and even sometimes wisdom." -- J.R.R. Tolkien "The baby has known the dragon intimately ever since he had an imagination. What the fairy tale provides for him is a St. George to kill the dragon." -- G.K. Chesterton Oh, and the whole institution thing was very real at the time. Just about anyone could be committed for just about any reason. It was particularly common for wealthy families to send 'embarrassing' family members to institutions where they could be safely forgotten about.
SOOOOOOOO much better than the lackluster remake that came around in the 90s. Natalie Wood as Susan and Maureen O'Hara as her mother were so perfect together.
Natalie and Maureen made I think at least two other films together, at least one as mother and daughter. They were apparently very close in real life, not the least because Maureen was much more maternal and kind than Natalie's own stage parent mom Maria.
#question --- With the reactions of much older movies you have reacted to on this channel, What do you find in these 1930s 1940s 1950s etc films that is missing or different in a movie today ??
I feel like conversation in older movies between people seem less forced and more natural; more back and forth with ease and there’s less “acting” if that makes sense. Yknow what I mean? That’s the only thing I can think of at this time!
I have no idea :( but when I tell you that I got clocked 3 times for just those two sections no matter what I did. Like they fully blocked the entire video because of that too. Insane stuff, I’ve never dealt with that before.
They made 2 color remakes of this Movie, They were OK but not as good as the original (this one). There were 2 huge Stars in this movie, Maureen O'hara and the future Star Natalie Wood.
