Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A little girl discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. Six-year-old Susan has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle - Santa Claus. Her mother told her the "secret" ... See full summary »

Director:

Les Mayfield

Writers:

Valentine Davies (story), George Seaton,

Stars:

Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins, Dylan McDermott

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Attenborough	...	Kris Kringle
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Dorey Walker
Dylan McDermott	...	Bryan Bedford
J.T. Walsh	...	Ed Collins
James Remar	...	Jack Duff
Jane Leeves	...	Alberta Leonard
Simon Jones	...	Donald Shellhammer
William Windom	...	C.F. Cole
Mara Wilson	...	Susan Walker
Robert Prosky	...	Judge Henry Harper
Kathrine Narducci	...	Mother
Mary McCormack	...	Myrna Foy
Alvin Greenman	...	The Doorman
Allison Janney	...	Woman in Christmas Shop
Greg Noonan	...	Cmdr. Coulson

Storyline

A little girl discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. Six-year-old Susan has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle - Santa Claus. Her mother told her the "secret" about Santa a long time ago, so Susan doesn't expect to receive the most important gifts on her Christmas list. But after meeting a special department store Santa who's convinced he's the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all - something to believe in.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | girl | santa claus | holiday | color remake of black and white film | 

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Taglines:

If you really believe, anything can happen.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

18 November 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Milagro en la calle 34

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£2,103,959 (UK) (9 December 1994)

Gross:

£6,604,230 (UK) (20 January 1995)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hughes Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Macy's department store refused permission for its name to be used in this remake.

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Goofs

While in Santa's room at the psychiatric hospital, a reflection of a crew member can be seen in the side of the shiny porcelain sink.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Grandson: Ask him. Ask him. Look at him, Grandpa. Ask him.
Judge Henry Harper: Uh, I'm sorry. He, uh... he thinks you're Santa Claus.
[Kris Kringle and Judge Harper laugh]
Kris Kringle: [to Harper's grandson] I am.
[to Harper]
Kris Kringle: Merry Christmas.

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Connections

Referenced in HBO First Look: 'Blue Streak': Inside & Undercover (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town"
Performed by Ray Charles
Written by Haven Gillespie / J. Fred Coots
Produced by Jeremy Lubbock and Elliot Lurie

User Reviews

51 year old guy bawls his eyes out, as usual

I can't see why a retelling of a really good story gets panned. It stayed true to the original concept, that believing in something good, even if it only comes once a year, can make us better. If I may reference another Christmas classic of which there have been several worthy interpretations, "Scrooge" (1951), the young Scrooge says to the young Marley upon their meeting, "I believe the world is becoming a very hard and cruel place...". If it was that way in the 1800's, it's ten times worse today, and therefore all the more reason to be reminded of our better nature. I especially enjoyed the scene where the streets of New York City were filled with throngs of people, traffic on the bridges was stopped, all waiting for the verdict. I know NYC well, and how its people rise to such occasions. These scenes were not in the 1947 version, and I think they added a uniqueness to this version. Better, worse than the 1947 version? Neither - just different, and just as valid.