"FRIDAY MOVIE SUGGESTION NIGHT" PRESENTS: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET!

Our End of Year Holiday Special!

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At this time of the year, with so much cynicism and sarcasm about, I felt that it was necessary to suggest a movie that needed to be seen to perhaps touch many wonderful people dealing with so many of life's challenges at this tender time of the year. And for these reasons, the plot of this film is made even more realistic for the wonder and child that lives within each of us. The scene is the Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade. The actor playing Santa is discovered to be drunk by an elderly bearded man. The all-business special events director, Doris Walker persuades the old man to take his place. The old man proves to be a sensation and is wonderfully given a "break" to become the store Santa at the main Macy's outlet. While he is successful, Ms. Walker learns that he calls himself "Kris Kringle". Moreover, he claims to be the actual Santa Claus! Doris tracks down Kringle's doctor who assures her that he is harmless. But the cynical Doris has managed to imbue upon her daughter, Susan, to reject all notions of belief and fantasy. This defense mechanism begins to unravel when the public (and Susan herself) begin to notice there is something special about Kris and his determination to advance the true spirit of Christmas above the rampant commercialism surrounding everyone as he succeeds in improbable ways. A major conflict erupts when an incompetent and cruel psychologist is enlisted by the department store leading to Kris' involuntary admission to Bellevue Hospital where, in despair, he fails a mental examination to ensure his commitment. I've often said in my blogging here that "Nobody ever goes it alone". And thankfully that proves to be the case in this movie where all seems lost until Doris' friend, Fred Gaily, reassures Kris of his worth and agrees to represent him in the fight to secure his release. To achieve this, Fred arranges a formal hearing in which he argues that Kris is sane because he is in fact Santa Claus. In this bizarre hearing, people's beliefs are re-examined and put to the test. If you believe in miracles, open your heart to the possibilities inherent in this film. If you don't believe in miracles, I hope this movie changes your beliefs for the best! A 1948 Academy Award Winner: Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Edmund Gwenn; Best Writing, Original Story: Valentine Davies; Best Writing, Screenplay: George Seaton. An amazing Cast includes: Maureen O'Hara as Doris Walker; John Payne is Fred Gailey; Edmund Gwenn is the memorable Kris Kringle; Gene Lockhart plays Judge Henry X. Harper; Natalie Wood is Susan Walker; Porter Hall is Granville Sawyer; "I Love Lucy" fans will instantly recognize William Frawley as Charlie Halloran; and a return actor from last week's Bogart movie, Jerome Cowan is District Attorney Thomas Mara. This is a movie for all ages and I hope you love it as much as I do!

ENJOY!

---Michael