Despite having been made into three TV movies, a radio drama, a stage
play, a Broadway musical, a feature-film remake in color, and a book
adaptation, the 1947 black-and-white film of Miracle on 34thStreet still
remains the favorite version of this modern Christmas classic. The
American public seems to echo what Macy's stated when declining to
participate in the 1994 remake: "We felt there was nothing to be
improved upon." In many ways, it is a perfect film in the sense that
there really is nothing that could have been done better: the story, the
casting, the acting were all spot-on. The decade from 1941-1951 saw a
bumper crop of classic Christmas including Christmas inConnecticut,
Holiday Inn, and It's a Wonderful Life, but with the exception of the
latter film none have had the staying power of Miracle on 34th Street.
This book describes the origins of the story, the casting and production
of the film, its marketing and publicity, and even how it elevated the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from a local New York event to a national
celebration. Finally, it looks at the film's legacy, including its high
ranking among best Christmas movies of all time as well as its placement
as ninth overall on the American Film Institute's list of the most
inspiring films.
