A Nostalgic Journey with 'Miracle on 34th Street'
Miracle on 34th Street is a fantastic story telling about an actual Santa Claus called Kris whose words and actions end up causing people to question whether he is truly the real Saint Nicholas. A cynical little girl named Susan, and a lawyer decide to obtain certainty about Kris’s true identity which sends them to court to battle for the essence of faith, belief, and, in effect, what a real Santa Claus is. Another interesting aspect of the story is the transformation the main character and the community he is in experience during the events of the film indicating that ‘seeing is believing’. The movie boasts a great mood that puts you into the Christmas spirit easily – it’s filled with the same kind of wonder and magic. In the remake, sentimentality perfectly negates the attitude of skepticism typical for contemporaries. The conflict of reality and depicta- tion creates a profound subtext with which the viewer can easily identify when the focus is on faith in a world that loves to doubt.
Richard Attenborough gives a splendid performance of Kris Kringle, sincere and hilarious at the same time. Mara Wilson as Susan, the nominal ‘doubting Thomas’ is most believable and plays the part of a child caught between disbelief and faith. There is significant support from Elizabeth Perkins, and Dylan McDermott gives extra depth to the story, portraying emotions. The characters are well developed and each one has, with their conflicts and their happiness, the ability to reach the viewer.
This ‘90s makeover of the original story, directed by Les Mayfield, retains enough of the charm of the original and provides something new for a new generation. Primarily, Mayfield manages to combine tenderness and contemporary storytelling, graphic, and deeply emotional film. His direction adds the value to the picture and turns the movie into a lyrical drama of faith and spirit.
Thus, the music of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ composed by Bruce Broughton complements the film’s magical theme. It is a great match to the holiday theme and suit amazingly well the ups and downs of the movie. Every note further improves the on screen action and pitches the audience into the world of Christmas New York.
The presented film embodies the Christmas staking its cinematic delight on the magnificent scenery of New York. The movie was shot well with lots of warm light to give a classic feel and the magical feeling the director intended. This makes environment friendly for the magical to appear so real.
The set and backgrounds and the exteriors depict the Christmas season especially through shooting on set with effervescent American New York busy streets and luxurious departmental stores. Every scene is set to give the feel of the holiday season with an underlined magic around it, thus dragging the audience into a world where magic is around the corner.
As was expected for the type of movie it is, special effects are kept to a minimal, but when used, are well incorporated. The emphasis is made on the story and its actors, while effects make a contribution to strengthening the dreamlike concept of the movie without dominating the picture.
The work on editing in this film is good, it does not allow the audience to be distracted by unnecessary things at any moment and makes them stay focused on what is happening on the screen from the beginning till the end. They help maintain the pace and rhythm of the film, as well as adding comedic elements that fit perfectly with the overall atmosphere of the movie.
Due to correct tempo of ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ different tones of the movie are balanced between drama and comedy successfully. The film advances through its storyline with assurance and lets go of each scene well enough to let the audiences hear the message while not making the plot boring. It offers the viewer a very relaxed watching that leads to the detailed examination of emotions and feelings.
The spoken word in the ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ is rather pleasant and very much responsible for the character evolution and the film’s progression. The conversations are engaging and amusing at the same time, with occasional dramatic touches emphasizing the theme of scrutinizing belief in oneself. It’s creative writing for the audience and the moviegoer that perks joy and triggers ponderous factors.
Although ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ rightly claims its position in the list of classic Christmas movies, some might find the movie a little too slow for their taste especially in an era where audience is privileged to faster moving picture scenarios. Moreover, it might be noteworthy that the sentimentality intertwined with realistic notes in the film might look somewhat artificial at some points in the movie, but the message of the film triumphs over these concerns. It evokes the holiday spirit delivering hope and belief messages which stay with the viewer even after the movie is over. The film acknowledges that it is fun to have faith and shows the world on the spotlight on what happens when you believe even in the toughest of situations.
