Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing.

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

Six-year-old Susan Walker discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. She has doubts about childhood's most enduring miracle, Santa Claus. Her mother, Dorey, told her the "secret" about him a long time ago, so she 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, she is given the most precious gift of all, something to believe in.

---

Plot Keywords:

santa claus | girl | remake | parade | court | 

---

Taglines:

If you really believe, anything can happen.

---

Genres:

Family | Fantasy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to an interview with Adam McKay, Twentieth Century Fox had planned to give this movie a small, eight hundred-screen release until it received a perfect one hundred percent test screening score. Instilled with confidence, the studio tripled the marketing budget and gave it a wider release, but the strategy backfired when it collapsed in the crowded 1994 holiday movie slate, notably compared to another more successful Santa Claus-themed movie, The Santa Clause (1994). McKay attributed its failure to its plot depicting bureaucracy out to disprove the existence of Santa Claus, joking that "No one's going to say Santa Claus sucks."

---

Goofs

In the Thanksgiving Parade scene, the trees in Central Park are seen budding for spring (the scene was shot in April).

---

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: [quietly to Harper's grandson] I am.
[to Harper]
Kris Kringle: Merry Christmas.

---

Connections

Referenced in Naked Fear (1999)

---

Soundtracks

Santa Claus Is Back in Town
Performed by Elvis Presley
Written by Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label of BMG Music

User Reviews

Good acting, great remake, wonderful Christmas movie

I totally loved this movie, just as good, acted just as well, great cast. Sir Richard Attenborough was just the one for Kris Kringle. WOW! Dylan McDermontt does great and Elizabeth Perkins shines with beauty and performance. Mara Wilson pursues Natalie Wood with the spectacular role as the little girl in great perfection. I wish Natalie Wood could've lived to see her performance. This was an amazing movie. If you want to have a great Noel, rent both versions. They're so enjoyable

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language Dutch Italian Russian Swahili

Release Date:

18 November 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miracle on 34th Street

Filming Locations:

Central Park West, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,753,208, 20 November 1994

Gross USA:

$17,320,136

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$46,264,384

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Hughes Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1