The Miracle on 34th Street (14 Dec. 1955)

One Kris Kringle, a department-store Santa Claus, causes quite a commotion by suggesting customers go to a rival store for their purchases. But this is nothing to the stir he causes by ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

John Monks Jr. (teleplay), George Seaton (based on a screenplay by),

Stars:

Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, Thomas Mitchell

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Macdonald Carey	...	Fred Gaily
Teresa Wright	...	Doris Walker
Thomas Mitchell	...	Kris Kringle
Sandy Descher	...	Susan Walker
Dick Foran	...	Thomas Mara
Hans Conried	...	Mr. Shellhammer
Ray Collins	...	Judge Harper
John Abbott	...	Dr. Albert Sawyer
Don Beddoe	...	R.H. Macy
Whit Bissell	...	Dr. Pierce
Sara Berner	...	Woman Shopper
Herb Vigran	...	Postal Clerk (as Herbert Vigran)
Maudie Prickett	...	Miss Prossy
Paul Smith	...	Store Clerk
Herbert Heyes	...	Mr. Gimbel

Storyline

One Kris Kringle, a department-store Santa Claus, causes quite a commotion by suggesting customers go to a rival store for their purchases. But this is nothing to the stir he causes by announcing that he is not merely a make-believe St. Nick, but the real McCoy. The production is followed by a preview of scenes from the Fox feature film The Rains of Ranchipur, starring Lana Turner, Richard Burton, Fred MacMurray, and Michael Rennie. This behind-the-scenes portion was produced and directed by Joe Parker.

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Plot Keywords:

department store santa | department store | judge | court hearing | post office | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 December 1955 (USA)

Filming Locations:

TCF Television Productions Studio, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min 46 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mr. Gimbel played by Herbert Heyes had played the same role in the original Miracle on 34th Street.

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Connections

Version of Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

User Reviews

It's a "Miracle" Santa didn't go to jail for assault!

To begin with this movie is only 50 minutes long about half as long as the original 1947 version. It moves at a swift clip and feels rushed. I would guess that this made for TV movie was an hour long program with 10 minutes of commercials and 50 minutes of show.

Much of the script is word for word taken from the '47' version. I swear that the scene in which the balloon or a baseball player seen through a window is taken directly from the '47' version. This is not unexpected as this movies production costs were no doubt limited compared to the '47' version.

What I disliked the most was the character interaction. There were good actors/actresses in the film. Teresa Wright, the mother, and Thomas Mitchell, as Santa, have won Oscar's. Ray Collins, the judge, is well known and respected as Lt. Tragg from the PERRY MASON show. Hans Conreid was a recognized supporting actor and an animated voice actor back in his day. Despite these qualifications the actors just don't mingle well. The worst is Thomas Mitchell as Santa. He seems less jolly and more angry. The one story line that leaves the original film is when Santa hits the story psychiatrist with his cane. In the "47" film it is done in private and is more of a smack to the head. In this film Santa clubs the man in from of an audience full of kids and parents. It is almost vicious! I felt no sympathy for this cranky Santa.

However, if you are a fan of the story adding this film to your collection is not a bad idea. It is nice to compare all the different productions of this film. You can obtain it from various auction sites.