Miracle On 34th Street

Director:

Les Mayfield

Producer:

John Hughes (Director of “The Breakfast Club“; Producer of “Home Alone“)

Written by:

George Seaton and John Hughes (Based on the original 1947 screenplay by George Seaton)

Music:

Bruce Broughton

Cast:

• Kriss Kringle : Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park, The Great Escape)
• Dorey Walker : Elizabeth Perkins (Big, The Flintstones)
• Brian Bedford : Dylan McDermott (In The Line of Fire, Destiny Turns on the Radio)
• Ed Collins : J.T. Walsh (A Few Good Men, Backdraft, Nixon)
• Jack Duff : James Remar (Blink, Boys on the Side)
• Alberta Leonard : Jane Leeves (Daphne Moon, “Frasier”)
• Shellhammer : Simon Jones (Arthur Dent, “The Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy”)
• Susan Walker : Mara Wilson (Mrs. Doubtfire)
• Judge Harper : Robert Prosky (Last Action Hero, Dead Man Walking)
• Victor Landbergh : Joss Ackland (uncredited) (Lethal Weapon 2, The Hunt For Red October)

B ased on the original 1947 film, this new version of Miracle on 34th Street brings the tale to the present day.

Cole’s toy store has open for business with a brand new Santa Claus. Kriss Kringle, a man who really believes he is the children’s fantasy hero, is hired. At first, it’s thought that he’s not doing his job properly when he tells children that they can get their Christmas gifts from other stores for cheaper prices. However, this has an unforseen result, when parents tell the manager, Shellhammer, that they’d rather shop at Cole’s where people are put first rather than the company’s profits.

Everything goes fine, and profits are soaring, until an embittered ex-Santa breaks up the party, throwing accusations at Kriss, and later that evening outside the store, he provokes Kriss into taking a brief swing at him.

It’s all a set-up of course, but Kriss Kringle’s name is damaged, and his job is lost at Cole’s. It’s then up to Dorey to persuade the chairman, C.F. Cole, to stand by Kriss, and to persuade Brian to take the case to court to prove that Kriss really is Santa Claus.

Of course, it doesn’t take an Einstein to predict the outcome, and in real life such a case would never come to trial, but forget the real world for a couple of hours, and concentrate on the world that Miracle on 34th Street inhabits. Free of any bad language, the film comes across as a very down-to-earth family affair to be enjoyed at Christmas and beyond.

Good acting comes from all the cast, with one of my favourites, J.T. Walsh, as the lawyer for the prosecution. Richard Attenborough does a good turn as Kriss Kringle, and there’s always room for a cameo from Joss Ackland.

Picture quality is first rate. Odyssey have done very well to get such a good transfer. Sound quality is excellent too, with the channels filled mainly with incidental music, and a few directional sounds too.

Chapters are evenly spread across with the disc with one for the Odyssey logo, one for the original theatrical trailer, 22 for the film, and even though the disc is almost full, the sidebreak is well-placed.

The disc comes in a gatefold sleeve with a chapter listing on the inside, along with an insight into the film from Philip Kemp which also reveals a link between this film and the original version.

Before you watch it though, just ask yourself. Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Review &copy Dominic Robinson, 1996.