What Everyone Gets Wrong About Miracle on 34th Street 

I always thought "the miracle" was the little girls change of heart, & her family coming together. *That's* the miracle!!!

In the words of Terry Pratchett" just because you can explain it doesn't mean it's still not a miracle

The scene with the Dutch girl always moves me - being a World War 2 refugee(or displaced person) in a land not her own, she's already lost so very much. Seeing Kris, being understood, and understanding him means so very, very much.

Even from a young age, I never thought Kris was necessarily Santa. I thought that one of the finer points of the film was the mystery of whether he was or wasn't, but also the bright realization that it doesn't matter. He is what Santa Claus should be: a joy to children, and an example of hope and selflessness and optimism to adults.

As a real bearded Santa I strongly agree. This is my favorite Christmas movie. In the last month, I have had two different people tell me that I am the most authentic Santa they have ever seen. I tell them that is because I am Santa. I then do my best to live up to the image of Santa as portrayed in this film. I know I am not Santa, but for a moment I can help an adult or child suspend disbelief for just a little while and share in the magic and 'The Miracle" of Christmas. While I only wear the red suit from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the white hair and long white beard are year long accessories. I have even chosen my cane to match the one in the film. They are my year long reminders to hold Christmas in my heart all 12 months (as we all should, but so rarely do).

I have to respectfully but strongly disagree with the premise that the movie makes it unambiguously clear that Kris is not actually Santa Claus. It never conclusively declares that he IS Santa; however, not only does it never rule out the possibility, it seems- to me at least- to hint at the idea that he just may really be who he says he is.

Funny how the stars align -- I just watched this with my 11 year old son for the first time tonight. By the end of the movie he was totally convinced that Kris was in fact Santa Claus, as I had been when I was his age. By the end of the movie, I was totally convinced the magic of the movie still works, even 70 years later. Merry Christmas everyone. 😁

I always interpreted the miracle to be that there wasn't an actual miracle needed. That one man's kindness spread through those around him and sort of butterfly effected out to touch and change so many people's lives. The part where Suzie was able to pretend to be a monkey was always my favorite part.

There actually is a miracle in the movie. Susan mailed a letter to Kris in the late afternoon / evening and it was delivered to him at the courthouse the next morning. Now that's a miracle.

For me it’s the Dutch girl scene that convinces me he’s Santa. Dutch speakers were highly unusual in New York in the 40s. Whether he’s Santa or just a harmless nutcase who speaks Dutch, that scene gets me every time. When I think of the hell that poor girl saw in WWII-ravaged Europe, for her to get that moment of joy with her Sinter Klaas is a pearl beyond price. And yes, I’m tearing up just typing about it.

Growing up my mom made us watch this movie every year. More because we’re Irish and she loved Maureen O’Hara. It’s a great feel good movie. The cast is stellar. Natalie wood, John Payne, William frawley. Even the bit players all excellent actors. Thelma Ritter, jack Albertson. Just well played by all these fine people.

Funny. Aligning a string of implausible events is a particular way is pretty much what I've always thought a miracle is.

Steve - Other than Kris himself, and at the very end Suzie, no character in the movie seems to sincerely believe that Kris is Santa Claus Kris - Hallo, Ik ben blij dat je kon komen (hello, I'm happy you could come!) Dutch girl - Oh! U bent sinterklaas! (Oh You ARE Santa Claus!) she even uses the most polite version of you becasue when you meet a saint, especially the most loved saint (as sinterklaas is often called in NL) you use polite language! Just saying Its not just Kris & Suzie

On this Steve, we both 1000000% agree, this is easily my favorite Christmas movie of all time.

Two things: 1 - William Frawley's turn as the Judge's political boss has to be the top of his game. Maybe past his time as Bub or Fred. Frawley: You go out there and tell everyone there's no Santa, and the only one who'll vote for you will be that District Attorney. Judge: (Shakes his head) The District Attorney's a Republican. 2 - Have to dispute your premise, just a tiny bit. After Fred brags that he took a broken down old man and legally transformed him into the one true Santa, he sees what could be Kris's cane in the corner of their new home, and while Susan logically explains it, he says "Maybe... and maybe I didn't do such a good thing after all." At least the ambiguity creeps in at that last second - which puts it acres above the 1994 remake, which was so blatant, why have faith when the film is certain?

You're absolutely right. And also (now that I'm thinking of it) the same conclusion could be made of the *first* modern Christmas fable: "A Christmas Carol (in prose)" by Charles Dickens. I mean, there's talk of ghosts all the way through, but there's nothing actually in the story that contradicts the idea that everything Scrooge undergoes that night is actually the result of "a bit of underdone potato." It might, in fact, all be his nightmare. What matters is what Scrooge *does* with his new insight, when he wakes up the next morning, and how he starts caring about other people.

I think the miracle is that in a cynical world that had gone through two world wars and a killer pandemic, one eccentric person can help people find a little whimsy in the world. This movie like The Sun editorial 'Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus." Makes it more about the joy of being a better person and having a sense of wonder. And I still love that in the end, Fred becomes the one who is skeptical about what he's done. Long Live Kris Kringle.

Steve, Kris IS Santa. How can you say he's not? The ending makes it perfectly clear. The cane in the corner makes it obvious that the house DID come from him, even despite the For Sale sign. Just look how aghast Maureen and John are in the end.

The cane at the end, along with the Dutch girl scene, convinces me that Kris IS meant to be Santa Claus, or at least that it is meant to be an open question. Yes, I know there were still Dutch speakers in the area in 1947, but that's a hell of a coincidence. If y'all can't tell reindeer apart, that's no reflection on Kris Kringle.

I definitely liked the ambiguity of Kris Kringle: he *_might_* be Santa Claus, but there's no definite need for him *_to_* be Santa Claus. He very much reminds me of the way I finally came clean to my kids when they asked me for a straight answer about Santa: I said, "When you give someone a gift, or when you are just kind to someone in any small thing, you *_are_* Santa. And more, remember what I read to you about what Jesus said: when you do anything for another person, you are doing it for Jesus."* *Matthew 25:40.

What I really love about this movie is that whichever way you look at Kris, the heartwarming sentiments are still firmly in place. It's an amazing film, with an excellent screenplay.

When I worked at the Macy's Herald Square store in the 1980s I was amazed that the locker room, lockers and the cafeteria looked exactly the same as they were shown in the movie. They never updated nor renovated those spaces for the employees in all those years. I want to think it was for nostalgia sakes.

What's so brilliant about this film is that they could've easily added a shot at the end like Santa flying away in the sky and waving to prove he was really Santa but they didn't. They left it with just the cane. Fantastic movie.

My daughter, now an adult, has adopted the philosophy of this kind, crazy, old man. She sums it up with the simple phrase “Just don’t be a dick.”

The reindeer in the window of the store that Chris attempt to correct, are most certainly not all the same. They have different poses and physical details, number of points on the antlers for instance. At the end of the movie, Fred doubts his thinking that Chris isn't Santa Claus.

Macy's Herald Square (where some of the film was actually shot) still capitalizes on Kris's philosophy. It displays a giant illuminated "Believe" sign over 34th Street. The high point for me is Natalie in the back of the sedan passively and glumly repeating "I believe," whereupon she sees the house. Her realization and transformation, her demand to stop the car, running up the hill to her promised house while the music swells - that's a sort of universal childhood dream. The cane, I thought, was almost placed there as an underscore or period to the statement, just in case there was any question.

I'll argue that all the events lining up for Kris and helping him win his case IS a miracle. A miracle is not always a magical event. Sometimes it's just the right place at the right time, the small stuff culminating in something magnificent.

I don't know about your interpretation here, because while he certainly wasn't an active Santa Claus, living at the North Pole, delivering toys to the whole world... he seems to be just a bit too effective at getting things done not to be magical. Knowing Dutch may not be miraculous, but knowing every human language would be, and we never once see him fail at anything.

I’ve watched this movie my entire life also. Natalie Wood! Woot woot! The first time I watched this film I didn’t think Kris was really Santa until the very end when the cane was left. That single second of film is what makes the movie so great. All of these very logical things that lead to a very logical legal conclusion. Even though there is probably a very logical explanation for the cane being left, the film built such a since of wonder that you go “He was Santa after all!”

I love this take. Especially the final points. “Strive to be the kind of person worth believing in.” I’m going to strive a little harder to do that every time I watch this movie now.

Your very well-stated thesis on the ultimate, humanistic messages of the film, and the film's committed realism, can all still be true while acknowledging that Miracle on 34th Street does in fact leave the question of Kris' true identity open. This is the thing about many miracles (or "miracles") in life: there's always an alternate, rationalistic explanation (in some religious traditions these are called "hidden miracles"). Even in religious texts, God rarely does open, obvious miracles, undeniable to all concerned. The movie is brilliant because besides the beautiful ethical ideas, it also conveys a message about faith, namely, that it's always possible to turn away from faith and toward a hard-nosed "realism." Not believing is always an option. That's what makes faith genuinely faith, and not a logical, unavoidable conclusion from "the data."

I always fell on the side of his actually being Santa Claus, since a common trope in movies like this is the "this nice old guy isn't *really* Santa--or *is* he?" plot. (With a heavy "wink wink nudge nudge"). We're led to believe the former until something unexplainable happens, leaving the main characters to scratch their heads and say, "I wonder..." while looking skyward. But you make a compelling argument for the opposite view.

The part that really resonates with me is a business putting the good of customers ahead of profit, all while reaping good business from it. I always think how so many of our problems could be resolved with some selflessness - and still benefiting as selfishly desired. Yet, so much of what I see today - from proposed efforts to fight climate change to the combating the pandemic - makes me feel it's a fantasy to think a business, or so many others, would do such a thing despite it being a simple and logical solution to so many problems.

Was not expecting to get emotional from this video, but that ending statement got me. Beautiful analysis, Steve! Thanks!

I am actually encouraged by the fact that so many people get it "wrong". It reminds me that despite the intent of the writers to leave the question ambiguous, and that you are correct when you say the movie offers no proofs, that there are many many people who have not lost the magic and the innocence of childhood regardless of their age. This was never a movie about whether Santa Claus is real. It presents to us sordid and materialistic aspects of life and then crushes them (IN A COURT OF LAW NO LESS) by what Abraham Lincoln might have meant when he referred to "the better angels of our nature."

This movie shows just how good Maureen O’Hara and Natalie Wood were as actors. Both understood the subtilties of the characters and their transformation throughout the film and brought them to life.

Well damn. For all these years, I thought he was really Santa. I loved the film, already, but your explanation has made me love it even more. You made me look at this classic in a new way and find even more magic in it.

Very nice. I've actually never watched the movie, but it sounds worth it.

"You know, years ago, my mother used to say to me, she'd say 'In this world, Elwood, you must be - she always called me Elwood - In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart, or oh so pleasant.' Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me."

What I genuinely appreciated about this movie was seeing Maureen O'Hara playing a strong independent single mother with a respectable if not high profile job for the time period.

We can agree this is a timeless, EXCELLENT Christmas film. Where we disagree is how you interpret the ending. It's just a movie, and there isn't an absolute conclusion. Is 'Kris' the real Santa Clause or just a lovable senior citizen? It's up to each individual audience member to draw their own conclusion. That's part of the beauty of the film. I saw the film when I was a kid and thought 'Kris' was the real "one-and-only" Santa. You didn't? That's your opinion and you're entitled to it.

I have always loved the ambiguity that leaves us with the question of "Is he, or isn't he?" The cane in the last scene is possibly my favorite. No, he isn't a wish granting machine, but I have always seen him as a character that knows how to bring out the best in others, including Alfred. In the end, it is suggested that only his cane remains, or is it his cane? Who knows?

The pure joy he brought to the little Dutch girl…..he was Santa.

Have to admit I was a little confused watching this. I never thought there was any debate that Kris was NOT Santa Claus. That's the entire point (and beauty) of the movie for me, that everything is based in reality. It's always been my favorite Christmas movie as well. As I think about it more, I think the movie is more empowering without a "real" Santa Claus. It means that we can create our own magic to make the lives of other people better. However, if people want to view it through the lens that Kris really is Santa - by all means enjoy it that way!

I had to get out of my bed to type this, but this one of my favorite videos you've ever made. I've loved this movie since I was a kid. I used to watch it with my cousin and Aunt. Thanks for the cheer!

Watched these movies (both versions) for the first time this year. I really liked them for having a grounded approach to miracle. This could happen, but the fact that it does is the miracle. As I remember, the house was a already known to Doris. It's being used to shoot Christmas adds for the paper. But might be mixing it up with the 1994 version.

You can do this kind of analysis to every single movie ever made. However, this is a good example of older movies. They don’t make your mind up for you. They let you decide, based on the events you see on film, whether he might or might not be Santa Claus. The cane in the fireplace at the end, is just meant to let you draw your own conclusions.

It didn't occur to me until adulthood how surprisingly contemporary, and even risky, parts of the story are. Particularly how Maureen O'Hara's character is a divorcee with a child, and not only that, but a successful businesswoman. Very rare in Hollywood films those days.

Like most everyone else at a certain age I was told there was no Santa Claus. But for me there was a bit of a contradiction. My father was born on Dec. 25th and he was christened Noel. Now I am French Canadian and in French Santa Claus is known as Pere Noel (french for Father Christmas). So for me there always was a real Pere Noel. My father did not “Ho, ho, ho,” but he did have a loud laugh, a generous spirit and when he was older a build that would have made a good Santa. And he loved Christmas. Ironically I am the one who actually plays Santa with a custom made suit and I have a very good and natural sounding “Ho, ho, ho.” Oh, and I love the original Miracle On 34th Street. It has long been one of my favourite Christmas movies.

Happy holidays to you and yours. Thanks for another thoughtful video.

Not me sitting here crying during your much abridged summary of this movie... What can I say? Kindness and love ALWAYS get me.

This is a heartfelt and worthwhile essay; thank you for posting it.

Outstanding. Thank you so much!

In an interview, the director George Seaton stated that he wanted to make a movie about how the commercialization of Christmas took away from the spirit of the holiday. The idea of Kringle being the real Santa would not work in the film he wanted to make. Kringle speaking fluent Dutch is a clue that the protagonist's real name isn't Kris Kringle. He's some old Dutch guy.

The cane in the house at the end, along with Fred's statement that "maybe I didn't do such a great thing after all," indicates that he IS Santa Claus. Not sure how you could've missed that.

What a lovely documentary, well written and pleasantly narrated. Way to go, Steve.

I hear what you're saying, but I'm not convinced that there's zero room for the possibility that he's actually Santa. Other people not actually believing he's Santa (e.g., the judge, the doctor at the old folks home, etc.) isn't particularly relevant, since adults in the movie would likely have those same beliefs either way. What you said about the identical reindeer may actually have been the most compelling bit, although even then, it could be reading more than was intended into the props used for a brief scene. In the other direction, while it's obviously far from definitive, his impressive knowledge of toy availability at various stores, and his seemingly fluent knowledge of the only foreign language he came across (and a fairly uncommon one, at that), count towards "not just a kooky old man". Your reading is probably right, and I think you did a good job laying out your case, but I feel like it's still possible to read the movie as *daring* you to hold out a little slice of hope that he's the real deal.

Thanks! Great Stuff.

Awesome analysis. Thanks for this. Merry Christmas.

Man, I love your essays Steve, please don't ever stop.

Great clip. Thank you.

I needed this video. Thanks, ya ol' softee. 💓

Trivia: The postal worker is played by Jack Albertson.

Great video! This is always been one of my absolute favorite Christmas films!

Excellent review

Thanks Steve, sometimes I just want someone to tell me a story, and this was perfect.

That was lovely. You touched the heart of this old cynic. Merry Christmas Steve.

Steve, What a fantastic video essay! So very well considered. I have seen the movie more than a few times but had never given it any great amount of thought. Thoroughly enjoyed your perspective.

I disagree; the cane leaning on the fireplace at the end casts everything into ambiguity regarding Kris. That being said, it's a charming movie, in large part because almost everyone in it is acting in their own cynical best interests at all times (e.g., the judge only lets the apparent farce of a trial proceed because he's worried about re-election), and it still all somehow leads to a happy ending.

Thank you for a fresh look at my favorite Christmas movie. I never considered whether or not Kris was actually Santa, just vaguely assumed he was. Him *not* being Santa makes a lot more sense, and makes the movie even more wonderful. As you pointed out, we don't need magic after all - we just need kindness.

Santa talking to the adopted Dutch girl was my favorite part!

The problem here isn't that Kris Kringle is not Santa Claus - the problem is that YOU have a false perception of WHO and WHAT Santa Claus is supposed to be. Kris is very much the REAL Santa Claus. That he doesn't exactly fit our "idea" of Santa is OUR problem. If you are unable to see the MIRACLE of this movie, it's because you are too cynical to "get" what the real miracle IS.

The "Miracle" is the Power of Unconditional Love. Love changes hearts, minds and lives. 💜

Thank you for this master class breakdown of a film I would perhaps of ignored. Lovely video!!

Excellent breakdown. Thank you.

The end when his cane is found by the fireplace proves that he is Santa Claus, or, at least might be.

I think this interpretation is the reasoned scenario baked into the script by its writers. For those of us that prefer to dwell in a world of magic realism, Kris is frankly Santa. Merry Christmas! The letters arriving at the courthouse during the trial is what miracles look like. You've never experienced a "miracle of perfect timing"?

Perfect analysis Steve, thank you!

Absolutely brilliant analysis! I agree 100%. The "miracle" is how Kris changes people's hearts. Not that he is Santa Klaus.

God bless you my dude!

very nice video. Thank you!

Thanks for the subtitle pun. "I don't think so." It was a treat to the lip-reading, subtitled community.

Great video

A wonderful exposition of what makes *Miracle on 34th Street* so great.

Kris may or may not be The Actual Santa Claus, but it's undeniable that a miracle certainly does occur in the movie.

I’m 65 years old and has always been my favorite Christmas movie and still is…yes I still watch it till this very day.

The best part is that this is not the end of the story. It goes on. Remember the dead letters? They are no longer dead letters. The US Postal Service now takes the letters to Santa Claus digitizes them and publishes them online for anonymous people to fill in the name of Santa Clause

very good analysis :) xmas is a state of mind indeed, very warm video thanks

This iconic film is right up there with Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard, It's a Wonderful Life. Yes, movies like that CAN make our world a better world. And what great commentary! Thank you.

Susan asked Kris for a house to prove he was Santa and it was the very same house she was dreaming of and her room was just like she knew it would be. Santa Claus. Case closed. This guy was watching a different movie than I was.

Excellent analysis of the film that in no way lessens the enjoyment of the film! Well done. Another great video.

While this was a fine video, overall, and I agree with almost everything you said, I think you're letting your own world view and values color your perspective a bit too strongly and blind you to the fact that there is actually some room for interpretation. Things like the cane in the house at the end hint at a Kris being Santa, but you could just as easily argue that's a red herring, intended to make it appear like there could be some last-minute Twilight Zone-style twist, when the truth is still perfectly mundane. At the same time, however, you could argue the same thing about things like Kris's address. If Santa was spending a lot of time in NY, he'd need a place to stay! Why not someplace where he'd fit right in? You could say the same thing with reindeer miniatures. The shopkeeper clearly thinks he's insane, sure, and the reindeer all look identical to us... but you'd see the scene play out the exact same way if he were Santa and the set was modeled on his actual team of reindeer. We'd never be able to tell them apart, but he certainly could! That's not to suggest your interpretation is wrong. No, it's absolutely valid for all the reasons you outlined! That's one of the things that makes it such a great movie: that it _does_ work on that level! It's one of the few Christmas movies that doesn't _require_ buying into the existence of a magical elf or a divine god baby to work ... or that there's just something magical about the month of December that makes everyone better. But, just because it absolutely works on that level (and I'm actually inclined to agree with your interpretation), I think suggesting it's the _intended_ reading and anyone who came away thinking otherwise is "wrong" is a bit reductive.

Great analysis! It actually increases my admiration for the wonderful, classic film.

A beautifully presented analysis of this classic film. Thank you for your insights and advocacy.

I'm only 2 minutes in (and I don't think I've watched anything on this channel before), but I just got to say, *thank you* for understanding this movie! This is why I love this movie, and you get it!

A very good summation of what the movie is really all about!

Merry Christmas Steve

I totally understand your analysis. It gives me even more respect for the craft that went into writing the film. The mechanics should be plausible, and still they manage to effect change and inspire an enjoyable touch of mystery.

Great review, this is film classic well-deserved of it's status as an all-time great. My favorite holiday films are BBC's "Hogfather" and Gremlins, odd pick I know, but those are films that really capture the Christmas spirit for me. I do want to say though that Bruce Timm's "Justice League" animated series has a Christmas episode which is also something special.

Now this is my favorite of your vids, seeing it for the 1st time...I like it better than all the times you agree or brilliantly disagree with me about Trek. Fine job, man.