MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Infamousta brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Organnall Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Sanjeev Waters A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had seen the original 1947 Oscar winning Edmund Gwenn version, and the more recognised 1994 Lord Sir Richard Attenborough version, but I had no idea there was another one, until I saw it broadcast, so I watched to see what I'd think. Basically the actor playing Santa Claus for Macy's Department Store Thanksgiving Day parade is found drunk, so parade director Karen Walker (Jane Alexander) persuades the bearded man who found him, Kris Kringle (The Jungle Book's Sebastian Cabot) to take his place. Kris proves to be a sensation with the public, and is quickly recruited to work in the Macy's store store on 34th Street to play Santa for the holiday period. What gives the store really good business is that they market the fact that Kris is telling customers where to find toys, including at better prices, and he is really enlightening everyone's spirits, including Karen's own daughter Susan (Suzanne Davidson), who is intelligent but cynical to beliefs and fantasy. The store's incompetent psychiatrist Dr. Sawyer (Roddy McDowall), is hired take Kris on a case study, but they only become enemies in the process, he eventually provokes Kris and causes him to react in the a way that will cause him to taken to Bellevue for tests, and he awaits a trial to prove his sanity. Karen's friend and neighbour Bill Schafner (David Hartman), agrees to help Kris, not just to defend him for his freedom and sanity, but unbelievably by proving he is the real, and the one and only Santa Claus! It is going to take a miracle for Kris to win, but thankfully they find something that clearly proves his identity, hundreds of letters addressed to "Santa Claus", all given to Kris at Christmas, they win the case, and in the end, Susan gets the present she always wanted for Christmas, a new house. Also starring Jim Backus as Shellhammer, David Doyle as R.H. Macy, Tom Bosley as Judge Harper and Roland Winters as Mr. Gimbel. Cabot is likable as the man who may in fact be the real Santa, although I was distracted closing my eyes and imagining his voice with Bagheera the panther or the Narrator in Winnie the Pooh, the rest of the cast, apart from perhaps McDowall, aren't really worth mentioning, the story is pretty much the same as the original film, but you can tell it is made for TV, it has a predictable script, and it doesn't have any charm or pizazz, stick with the 1947 and 1994 versions, it is a fairly terrible remake seasonal family film. Adequate!

tforbes-2 The 1973 version of Miracle on 34th Street was not the first remake, as one was done for television around 1959 or so. Remakes are not necessarily a good idea, and this might be the case here.However, this version cannot compare to the 1947 original because it is a sort of different animal.Think of a Christmas special with some of the grittiness one finds in such a movie as The French Connection. Yes, this was shot in New York in the early 1970s, complete with the battered urban landscape to go with it. Unlike the 1994 version, there is no cheery cinematography; instead, we have a bleak urban landscape. And the bleakness is most appropriate, since the 1947 original has a noir side to it as well.I prefer to take this version on its own terms, because my memories of 1973 are so vivid. I found it a fascinating, rewarding time. Hence, like one of the other reviewers, I am going to be prejudiced. And believe me, one could do worse when it comes to Christmas specials.One note: I saw toward the opening sequences a 1974 AMC Matador coupe. It makes me wonder if this was actually shot on a tight time schedule, since the coupe would have been new in the fall of 1973. Definitely a fascinating touch!

coxtalan I watched this when it first came on TV 35 years ago Dec.14,1973. I liked this one better than the 1947 and 1994 versions. Although,the 1947 and 1994 ones are on DVD and get the most advertised. This 1973 made for TV one is the one I grew up with as an 11 yr. old kid in the 70's.When at Christmas,kids wanted things like bicycles,roller skates, sleds,footballs,GI Joes,Barbie dolls,and the board games at that time. And before there were Ipods,there was the view master.This one stars Sebastian Cabot(Mr.French of Family Affair and Winston Essex of the Ghost Story series)as a man claiming to be Santa Claus. But Macy's store workers Karen Walker(Jane Alexander)and Dr.Sawyer(Roddy McDowall)have a hard time believing that but Karen's daughter Susan(Suzanne Walker(whatever came of her?)believes him. David Hartman(The Bold Ones:The New Doctors and Lucas Tanner)(the icon of 70's TV) plays Bill Schaffaer the lawyer who helps Kris Kringle prove who he is.This movie also stars Jim Backus(I Married Joan and Thurston Howell III of Gilligan's Island)as Horace Shellhammer. I liked it when Susan called him "Horace Belljammer". Conrad Janis(Mork and Mindy),Tom Bosley(Mr.C of Happy Days),and David Doyle(Bosley of Charlie's Angels)This movie should also set the record straight of a rumor that was going around of Tom Bosley and David Doyle being the same person. There is a scene were you see both actors together at an angle. So that rumor is false.I got this movie taped and watch it every Christmas because it reminds me of the Christmases I grew up with in the 70's.In my opinion,the best version.

Zephyrwood Okay this 1973 made for TV remake isn't as good as the old 1947 black and white original Miracle on 34th Street but it is still good and I actually enjoyed watching it! It was first shown on TV in 1973 when I as a little girl but I had never seen it until this year and so far I have watched it about 2 or 3 times and while the original cast is better I thought that Sebastian Cabot who some may remember as the butler Mr. French in the show Family Affair was good as Kris Kringle and was probably the best actor in the movie along with Jane Alexander! Suzanne Davidson the child actor who played Susan was no where near as great as Natalie Wood but she wasn't bad and David Hartman was good but his acting was a little over the top at times especially in the courtroom scene about the post office and the letters for Santa. All in all not as good as the original but I liked it and any child of the 70's should find this movie amusing and their kids might like it too and it's much better then that awful 1994 theatrical remake!