Shan-something that you might not be aware of, why this particular moment is so heartbreaking is the "Dutch girl with Santa scene." A lot of Dutch people sacrificed themselves to smuggle bomber and fighter pilots out to England (after they had been shot down) to carry on the fight. Knowing that is why the girl is orphaned puts an entirely different light on the scene.

The "new" house that little Natalie Wood runs into is located at 24 Derby Road in Port Washington, New York, and still gets hundreds of cars driving past every holiday season in remembrance of this movie.

This was one of those television staples that aired every single year for my entire childhood.

The "Little Dutch Girl" was especially hard at the time of the release. The memories were still fresh and the war had created so many orphans.

There's no comparison. This is the version to watch.

The hard T pronunciation of "th" is very commonly used by Irish people. This may explain Maureen O'Hara's use of it in the movie, given that she's originally from Ireland.

The big contraption that the doctor got as a gift, was an xray machine. This was mentioned by Chris in the movie that he wanted to get an xray machine for a friend. And Mr. Macy and Mr. Gimble had donated to get it.

Imagine how this must have played in 1947, just after the end of WWII, when so much of the world was broken and really needed to have some faith in something.

I love this movie. The remake is pretty good but the original is the superior version.

I much prefer the version where he can speak Dutch over being able to perform Sign Language. I know several people right now, between co-workers and family members, that know ASL to one extent or another. But I do not currently know anybody that knows Dutch. The fact he can speak to the little girl, being able to speak Dutch and knowing the Dutch Christmas songs, is just more impressive and surprising. It is kind of the first real place where the audience raises their eyebrows and starts to wonder. I think it is the main problem I have with the newer version honestly.

So I take it that you've never seen the original "Parent Trap"(1961) with Maureen O'Hara. Definitely a classic.

***CLASSIC*** I love this version, even better than the colorized version and I have never seen the New Version ( why should I this one is just fine for me ). Like you and your 90's version, This version takes me back to my own childhood when most TV was still B&W at our home, so this takes me back to my own childhood, even if only for a moment. This is a THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS Classic.

When Maureen O'Hara said "tree" for "three," and "trow" for "throw," it was because she was Irish. She was using a mid-Atlantic accent in the movie, but a bit of her Irish accent leaked out. TV originally used a 4:3 aspect ratio because that was the most common one used for movies. The film industry moved to wider aspect rations because they were worried about competition from television. Of course, now most TVs have a 16:9 aspect ratio, and there isn't much distinction between the film and TV industries.

I was a kid in the 80s, so this was the version on network TV every year. Magical. :)

great reaction really love that movie! if you like Maureen O'Hara you should see her being full on Irish in the quiet man with John Wayne is a fantastic funny movie.

I grew up loving this film. Coincidentally, in 2008 I was a guest on the Martha Stewart Show and after the taping, I decided to walk through Manhattan to my hotel. I passed the original Macy’s store where they had recreated all the important scenes from the original Miracle on 34th St. movie in the Macy’s windows-complete with full size animatronic figures that were exact likenesses of Maureen O’Hara, the judge, Sally, etc. in each window in gold foil was the word: “Believe”. I don’t care it is only for crass commercialism, that was one very special Christmastime for me. Way to go, Macy’s!

Getting the house wasn’t so easy in 1947-there was a huge housing shortage after the war, especially in established neighborhoods like the house at the end of the film.

A Christmas miracle! You watched something pre-1980! Bravo. Please make it a semi-regular thing. Especially since your aspect ratio questions reveal that you have a whole universe of unseen great movies waiting for you. I genuinely hope that you someday let the door open to appreciating classic Hollywood filmmaking. (You could hardly do better or hit more in your wheelhouse than catching up with teenage Natalie in Rebel Without a Cause, just to pull a title out of a hat.) Happy 30,000.

We thought as you do, Shanelle, that we didnt want to lie to our daughter so we never said Santa was real and didn't play him up. One year she asked me if he was real. I just asked what she thought. She said she thought that me and her mom gave her presents but that Santa gave gifts to children who didn't have anyone to give them things. I thought that was a beautiful idea.

I want to suggest "Meet Me in St Louis" I think you would love it. It's for sure not your typical Christmas movie, but so good! Also, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was written for Judy Garland to sing in it! 😍

Maureen O'hara is one of my all-time faves. That hard t on the th sound is def an Irish accent quirk, not universal but not uncommon. I think since so many Irish moved to NY in the mid-late 1800s as a result of the potato famine, it could also be pretty common in NY accents of the early-mid 1900s.

You mentioned in the trivia that this was one of just three Christmas movies nominated for Best Picture. If you haven't seen "The Bishops Wife" (also 1947), you should definitely react to it. More of a xmas film for adults, but one of my favorites with great performances. I am always surprised at how many people have never even heard of it.

I know you couldn't help comparing each scene to your favorite and I knew you would love this version, it's so heartfelt and so 40s. Of course i grew up knowing all of these actors from other projects. Little known fact: Edmund Gwenn is the real Santa Claus! Shhhh! Don't tell anyone. Thanks for another great reaction.

Albert is the biggest thing that brings me back to this version but to me Attenbourogh was Spectacular as Kris. He embodied everything and the way the movie was done in 1994 was timeless and heartfelt. Everyone gave 110% and it shows. Still my favorite Christmas movie every year.

I recall when the 90's version first came out. One of the things that they really praised the movie for was being "faithful" to the original. There were obvious changes to "update the story" for the 90's audience, but they were able to capture the "spirit" of the message which was about having faith in people overall. PS: Maureen O'hara was a complete BABE back in the day. So much so, that she was the most popular Irish woman, the most popular Redhead AND was considered one of the late 40's/early 50's sexiest women. Yet unlike most "sexy bombshell" of the "Hollywood classic era", Maureen held the spot NOT for her physical looks so much as her ability to play basically any type of female character imaginable. From the "delicate and shy housewife" to the "outspoken and hot-tempered firecracker", she could pull it off with a grace and ease that a lot of actors of the time couldn't match. It gave her such a wide range of characters and a LOT of memorable movie scenes that cemented her legacy in Hollywood above a lot of other female actors of the time.

Ted Turner colorized this movie in the 80's, because he thought it was a good idea, and we spent YEARS having to watch that BS on TV. And while the 1994 full-color remake is just ok, THIS is the definitive holiday movie for me. I think it's because it holds onto its cynicism until the very last moment.

This is one of my two favorite Christmas movies, the other being "It's a Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. In both cases, I really do prefer the original B&W versions to the colorized versions. And casting the real Santa Claus to play himself was absolutely genius!

Been waiting for this since last year when you rewatched the remake and said you had never seen this one. 3:4 was the standard movie theater aspect ratio at the time, which is why television adopted it. But then the theaters had to compete with TV, so they widened it to sell people on going to theaters.

About the aspect ratio- that used to be the ratio most movies were filmed in. When television became a thing, they decided they wanted to offer “more” for the big screen in order to make ticket costs worthwhile for the paying audience. Also, fun fact: not only did they shoot on location in NY, they shot the opening at the *ACTUAL* Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade that year! Made things significantly more complicated- the timing had to be just right and there could be NO retakes, but they wanted and got the real parade.

I like how you said Catherine O’Hara 24:16 mark. Confusing Miracle on 34th with Home Alone. 😆. We all make little mistakes. ❤️

This is my all-time favorite movie (tied with THE RIGHT STUFF). Upon winning his Oscar Edmund Gwen said, "Now I know there's a Santa Claus " I first saw this movie as a child on TV and it means even more to me as an adult because as we grow older life hits us and go from being the Natalie Wood character to the doubting Maureen O'Hara character and we have to be reminded of those glorious intangibles

I'm 57 and this has always been, always is, and always will be my favorite. Playing Santa during the Macy's parade. He really did play Santa during the parade and got it on one take and people at the parade never knew they were on TV briefly.

O.K. Shanelle, since you're in the Christmas spirit (in your N.Y. way) let me recommend once again " We're No Angels" 1955 either for your channel or your personal viewing. It's not too Christmasy (for example it's on Devil's Island) and stars "Humprey Bogart, Peter Ustinov and Aldo Ray" and is about escaped convicts using their particular talents to help a family. It's filled with witty dialogue "Yes, one of the convicts nearly killed a guard". "Nearly?" "It's the prison food you'll be back to your old strength in no time." Happy Christmas, love your channel.

"Maybe I didn't do something so wonderful after all." The most powerful line in the whole movie.

Nice finding Jack Albertson. He started in Vaudeville, this was just his third movie, and later won a Tony award and Academy Award for his performance in The Subject Was Rose's. He was a common character in 70s TV and movies.

The actor who plays the judge is Gene Lockheart, whose daughter June played the mothers on 'Lassie' and 'Lost in Space' TV shows.

Re grown men with twin beds in their apartments: It was normal for apartments to be rented furnished back in the day. A single guy would likely rent a pre-furnished place rather than spend money collecting furniture of his own. He's save that expense for when he got married. So our hero's place probably came with the two beds, as well as cleaning service since it was a pretty high-end building. Also, that weird contraption that was the doctor's gift at the end is the x-ray machine his clinic needed, the one Macy and Gimbel were arguing over who could get it for Kris at the lowest cost. That moment when the doc sees it is one of the moments that always gets me all misty in this movie.

I absolutely love your enthusiasm and your obviously genuine love of movies. Thanks for continuing to share your reactions to movies with us. I loved this one. Can't wait to see what other holiday movies you have in store for us this season. Merry Christmas!!

I love that you got emotional at some scenes. You could not be more adorable.

When I was in high school, my cousin and I worked in the Santa booth at Lexington Mall. One evening, Santa called in sick, so we needed someone to fill in. After calling all of our friends, to no avail, I called my daddy. I asked him to check at his bank office for some underpaid teller who wanted some extra cash. Within the hour, my daddy suited up and became one of the best Santas the mall had ever seen. He stayed with us through the season. Even after I left home, he continued to play Santa in the mall, moving to Fayette Mall. Mom made him a beautiful velvet Santa suit and she made herself a Mrs. Claus outfit. Until the year before he died, my daddy played Santa for church, the Lion's Club, Rotary Club, and for friends and family. When someone asks if I believe in Santa, I say of course, he's my Daddy.

A Maureen O'Hara comedy you might like, possibly her last movie, with John Candy, Ally Sheedy and Anthony Quinn, is "Only the Lonely". She plays John Candy's Irish mother. It's just amazing seeing two screen legend such as Maureen O'Hara and Anthony Quinn in this little comedy, and killing their performances. Quinn gave such a poignant portrayal of the human struggle for... belief... in "Barabbas" . And of course he was also the cantankerous old Bedouin in "Lawrence of Arabia".

This wasn’t just one of your best reaction this is one of the coolest reactions on KZfaq lots of laughs watch this movie every thanksgiving to start my holiday season thank you happy holidays

I watch this movie every Thanksgiving as the official start to the holiday season.

Such a great film... If you're looking for a BRILLIANT Christmas Classic follow up (that's not "It's A Wonderful Life"), I'd whole-heartedly recommend "The Shop Around The Corner" with the great Jimmy Stewart. It's the film that "You've Got Mail" (Tom Hanks / Meg Ryan) was based on. It's a funny, interesting, wonderful film and I think you would really love it. Happy Holidays, Shanelle!

AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE CLASSIC,, "POCKET FULL OF MIRACLES" (1961)..A Great Feel Good Movie That Is Absolutely Loaded With Legendary Stars.

I saw it on television first when I was way young. I only saw the remake once and honestly found it rather tepid to the original. This is my favorite Christmas movie along with Remember the Night with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray, which could also be called a holiday movie since it celebrates both holidays, Xmas and New Year's.

Your take on the original vs the remake is interesting. Maureen O'Hara was in the original The Parent Trap from the 60s (50s?) then it was remade in the 90s. Another opportunity?

The original Parent Trap stars Maureen O’Hara. I loved that movie growing up.

I love Maureen O'Hara with John Wayne, particularly in McLintock and The Quiet Man.

This is such a beautiful movie. I watched it on the projector with my daughter at Christmas time. She's a teenager but has always been totally in love with the time of year. Edmund Gwenn was the perfect Christmas. No wonder Natalie Wood thought he was the real thing!

Little Natalie Wood grows up to do some more classic movies: West Side Story, Rebel Without a Cause, Gypsy, Splendor in the Grass…. She was only 43 when she mysteriously drowned off Catalina Island in 1981.

Hi Shanelle. The Brooklyn way of pronouncing the th sound as just t is also very common in Irish accents as well. Maureen O'Hara did indeed have an Irish accent in her normal speech. Speaking of the magnificently beautiful and talented Ms. O'Hara, if you have not seen her with John Wayne in The Quiet Man, do yourself a favor and watch it. Wonderful movie. Also if you are considering Christmas movies for this year, I have a must see. You have probably seen some version of Scrooge or A Christmas Carol. If you have not seen the Alastair Sims version from 1951 you should treat yourself to it. IMHO it is by far the greatest depiction of the character Scrooge ever. I watch it at least once every year and will sometimes watch the last part of it additional times just to see Sims play the scenes after Scrooge's transformation. It is brilliant. Once again love your reactions and commentary. Still catching up on your reaction videos. So enjoyable. Thank you.

Every year for Christmas I love watching this and Meet Me in St Louis. Absolutely love Judy Garland ❤

Shan, I love this version and I shed a little tear or two right along with you. This is my favorite Christmas film of all time.

A classic for between Christmas and New Years is "the Apartment" with Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, and Fred MacMurray. It's a holiday movie as much as "Die Hard" is a Christmas movie. Also, the ending of "When Harry Met Sally" is pretty much lifted from this movie.

From what I understand all movies were originally 4:3 aspect ratio. When TV was invented it used the same aspect ratio as film. Filmmakers soon realized the competition they had with TV, so they looked for ways to give movie-goers a different experience. They began using wider aspect ratios to give movie-goers a more immersive experience; to make them feel like they were surrounded by the picture.

The Judge in this movie is portrayed by Gene Lockhart. He was not only June Lockhart's Dad, but he also played Bob Cratchett in the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol. ETA: Edmund Gwen also went on to play a scientist in THEM (the one about Giant Radioactive ants), which I had watched numerous times before I recognized that Santa Claus was in the movie!

This is one of my favorite movies. Hope you're having a great Holiday season. Love you're channel and post. Enjoy very much. You're one of my favorite people. 🙂❤🎄

You have no idea how happy i am knowing how much you enjoyed this version of Miracle on 34th Street, given it's in my top 5 things to watch at christmas.

One other tidbit of trivia: The actor who played Judge Harper was Gene Lockhart. He was the father of June Lockhart, of Lassie, Lost In Space and Petticoat Junction TV fame.

This is definitely my favorite Christmas movie of all time. I've been watching it for as long as I can remember, so many times every scene and line of dialogue is basically engraved on my soul. And Edmund Gwenn has been my image of Santa for my entire life honestly. So glad to see someone experience it for the first time. It's also funny cause you seemed very excited about old timey New York, and that's something my family loves about this version as well. It's fun to get that glimpse. And just look at Maureen O'Hara's apartment.

Back in the 1980's I worked at Brooks Brothers on Madison Ave. at Christmastime for a few years. It was a very old-fashioned store largely unchanged since the 1940's. Those Christmases all felt like I was living in the world of Miracle on 34th St. (1947).

In the scene with the little Dutch girl , the city of Rotterdam was bombed flat in 1940 , and a lot of orphans were created . That's why the mom didn't think he could speak to her ,

When someone not in an official capacity asks me my age, I use the line from his employment card "as old as my tongue but a little older than my teeth" line, most do not get it.

Favorite Christmas Movies 1 - It's a Wonderful Life 2 - Scrooged 3 - Miracle on 34th Street These 3 are the only Christmas movies I will watch each and every year.

As one who has seen both multiple times since I was a tot, while both are good and the 90s version is actually a good remake, I think this one edges out for me. This Kris Kringle is just a bit better imo. And it has Maureen O'Hara ❤️. Also that's Thelma Ritter as the mom/grandma that says she's going to shop at Macy's more often. She's a treasure too. I love the Doris Day movies she's in.

Along with THE RIGHT STUFF, this is my all-time favorite movie. I grew up watching this movie when it was shown on television every Christmas and eventually saw it on the big screen I cried in the same places you did. John Hughes made the 1994 remake and he was a master storyteller who knew the best way to adapt the material.

I watch this twice every year. Once on Thanksgiving weekend since it starts on Thanksgiving and again on Christmas Eve. Definitely a favorite.

This version of Miracle is my favorite movie, no qualifier.

For years I argued with my mom over the ending line. The way John Payne says “Maybe I didn’t do such a wonderful thing after all” makes me think he regrets helping Kris. I know it’s not what he means but I can’t shake the idea.

The original is one of my favorite Christmas films. I suggest you check out the 1947 version of _'The Bishop's Wife'_ starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven.

The square ration is for the standard theatre screen, at the time. Got to watch 'Gone With The Wind' in the original square ration, on an actual silver screen, in a theatre that showed it in 1939. Still had the single big speaker behind the screen. The Technicolor absolutely burned your eyeballs. Wow!

The actor who played the judge's campaign manager was William Frawley, best known as Fred Mertz on 'I Love Lucy,' and then he was on 'My Three Sons,' until the year before he died and was replaced by William Demerest as Uncle Charley.

For an absolutely classic Maureen O'Hara film, you need to watch her co-star with John Wayne in The Quiet Man.

Considering the time period, I think it's implied the Dutch girl is a war orphan.

I absolutely love this original film, have trouble appreciating the remake as much as you do (REALLY not a fan of the resolution of the newer one- that's a whole other conversation) -- But I would have loved to have had more of your thoughts on the 1994 remake vs the 1947 original-- what you thought this older one did differently / less well / better than the contemporary one you grew up with. Also: if you enjoy themes of believing / having faith and the holidays, please consider watching ‘Rise of the Guardians’ (a Dreamworks CGI movie)

I just love reactions like yours ❤ I had so much fun watching how much joy you had watching this movie

One thing that always attracts my attention is in the opening scenes, the cobblestone on the sidewalk, I assume next to Central Park, somehow looks even older in 1947 than it does today. LOL. When I was young in the 60's and 70's it seemed we always at some point saw this movie during the holidays. I can't remember any one particular time as the first but rather it just always being there as a seasonal tradition. "A Christmas Carol" was the big movie in my house(Rudolph too) and we would always watch mostly the Alistair Simms 1950's version or sometimes the 1930's version on Christmas Eve. Much later we sometimes watched the George C. Scott version. Oddly enough we NEVER watched "It's a Wonderful life." until I was in my 20's. It was always on but no one was actually was watching it. Now, it's right up there with scrooge for most watched. Miracle for me and my family is sort of the appetizer to the main course.

Your reviews make me smile! 😁

My favorite version is the 1973 television edition with Sebastian Cabot as Santa Claus and David Doyle as Mr. Macy. I was six years old when it came out, had no idea that the 1947 version existed at the time. It may not be the best version, but it's the one I remember from childhood.

A Christmas gift for you: I watch KZfaq on a 120” screen so I my eyes you’re always on the “big screen”. You’ve made it. Great videos 🥩🤘

I still like this one the best. I grew up in the 70's/80's, and December meant watching every single Christmas show and movie. I probably watched this version before I even knew I was watching a movie. I was actually young enough that I thought this was actually Santa.

Congratulations on 30K, Shanelle!!! Your hair looks really good today. Classic movie, I haven't watched it in quite awhile.

I really love these old classic movies with a good stories. Also i like to watch movies from silent era, mostly comedy genre, like Buster Keaton, Chaplin...

Great reaction. I love old fashioned Christmas so these older traditional type Christmas movies/specials are always my favorites. Merry Christmas to you 🎅🎄😁

Maureen O’Hara did a lot of movies with John Wayne like McClintock, The Quiet Man (a good movie to watch around St, Patrick’s Day) and Rio Grande.

The actor who played the prosecutor also appeared in several of the movies based on the 'Blondie' comic strip, as Dagwood's boss, Mr. Radcliff (William Frawley was also in a few of those). He also played Sam Spade's partner, who get's killed in the beginning of The Maltese Falcon. Later he was on 'The Twilight Zone' episode, 'The Sixteen Millimeter Shrine' with Martin Balsam and Ida Lupino.

This movie was out in theaters. TV was literally brand new at the time. Just came out in 1946 and I think only rich people have tv . Pretty sure made for tv movie didn't come out until decades later .

I remember my brother, sister and I watching this on the evening after the last day of school before Christmas, in 1980. When our mom came home from work, she brought a bucket of fried shrimp, back when they were unusual and still caought in the wild, and therfore tasted like shrimp. The next day, we went to our grandparents' house, and would get to see our cousins on that trip. That was a really great time. My mom, grandparents, and one of the cousins (the youngest at the time) are no longer with us. I think that December was also when I discovered the first remake.

What you were saying about old-timey diction styles I found super interesting, led me down a little googling rabbit trail, I never knew about that. Love your sweet and informative reactions!

I love this classic!!!! Merry Christmas!!!! 🤗❤✌🏼

Edmund Gwenn won an Academy Award for his performance as Kris Kringle. 👍

The aspect ratio of the film is called the Academy Ratio aka 1.375:1 which was the standard aspect ratio of films from the era of sound-synced films up until the mid-1950s. It's called the "Academy Ratio" because it was the standard set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The change was made in the first place because the audio track had to take up space on the film, so the old 1.3:1 stock used for silent films ended up 1.19:1 and couldn't really be projected consistently since none of the projectors were standardized either. So the Academy stepped in and set the standard for 1.375:1 aspect ratio and 0.825 in x 0.6 in as the projector aperture in 1930, with the Society of Motion Picture Engineers signing on in 1932. All the classic films (or at least all the studio films) were shot in this ratio because it was what all the film manufacturers made, what all the cameras could take, and what the projectors could show. Starting around the early 1950s, 1.85:1 became more common and by the mid-50s pretty much replaced Academy Ratio, and around the same time Anamorphic Widescreen 2.39:1 started creeping in. They're close to but not exactly the same as television ratios, with 4:3 (SD) being 1.33:1 and 16:9 (HD) being 1.77:1. (Technically, standard definition and high definition have to do with the resolution and not the aspect ratio, but because the move to HD coincided with the move to 16:9 in television manufacturing, the two are often connected in people's minds.) This is the sort of useless crap you learn in film school when you're in one of the last class to learn how to shoot on analog film rather than digital. It serves no purpose other than to be a know-it-all on the internet.

The wonderful character actress, Thelma Ritter, is uncredited here as the pleased mom/customer whom Santa refers to another store. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress later and was Jimmy Stewart's nurse, Stella, in the Hitchcock classic, Rear Window.

I'm new to your channel, but I've been binging on a lot of your older videos. I didn't go to film school, but I can't imagine never having seen Miracle On 34th St., Star Wars, American Graffiti, ..any Coen Bros films, Tarantino films....

My favorite version. So glad you gave it a chance.

One thing I've noticed about Irish and British and Scottish actors is when they are doing an American accent in a particularly emotional scene their accent kinda sneaks in. Pretty cool 😎.

When I was in high school, someone spat a wad of chewing gum in my hair. Someone suggested using oil to remove it, so we figured out the oil in peanut butter would do it, and after some work, it did get it all out. Nothing to do with Christmas, but at least I still got to school on time.

To see Maureen O'Hara in all her red-headed glory, you simply must see her in The Quiet Man with John Wayne. Directed by John Ford. It's a masterpiece that is a must watch for any student of film IMO.

5:57 "Well, that baseball player certainly looks like a Giant to me!" I love how he's trying to add some levity to the conversation and his joke sails right over her head.