I present to you the perfect Christmas movie. Don’t be discouraged by the black-and-white photography. It brings a pleasant sense of nostalgia, and the story will captivate you so quickly you’ll forget you’re not watching color. Let’s take a quick dive.
ONE
As credits roll the camera follows a man in a fedora who walks the streets of New York City. It’s like a charming time capsule. At a certain point I start to wonder how they managed to shoot this when steadicams didn’t yet exist. If you’ve ever pushed a camera dolly, you’ll be astounded at what they accomplished here.
Reveal that this bearded man is (probably) Santa Claus in modern clothing.
TWO
He continues to stroll, coming upon the floats waiting to enter the Macy’s Day Parade. Fake Santa is sloshed. Our Santa is outraged. He complains to the parade organizer, Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara). She fires the drunk and convinces Our Santa to take his place. For the children.
THREE
Santa rides in the parade float, waving to the cheering crowd. At this point he’s only a random man to Doris, someone she hired on the street.
FOUR
This is the “getting to know everyone” section. A young Natalie Wood as Doris’ daughter who’s been taught to seek reality over fairy tales is astonishing. The bachelor lawyer neighbor, John Payne as Mr. Gailey, is smooth without being creepy. The great Thelma Ritter makes an appearance as an exhausted mother trying to shop for her son. Santa recommends Gimbels while sitting in Macy’s chair, and the plot twists.
Eventually we meet our truly despicable villain, Mr. Sawyer, who feels threatened by Kris Kringle’s confidence. Santa shares a room with Mr. Gailey, and we have all the characters pursuing their motivations right next to each other.
SWITCH
Santa, defending a young janitor, whacks Sawyer on the head with his umbrella handle. Sawyer milks it, and Santa is taken to Bellevue Hospital where he purposely fails the competency test because he despairs that the Walkers will never believe in him.
FIVE
Gailey, in order to release Santa, represents him in a competency trial. This section is brisk and funny, don’t worry. Edmund Gwenn has been so perfect as Kris that we already believe. Watching others become convinced is the entertainment.
SIX
Gailey, who’s been presenting opinions to the court, must now prove that Kris is not just “A Santa” but the One and Only Santa. He has no idea how to do that. Meanwhile, Doris has relented and Susan wants to write Santa a letter stating that she believes in him. Doris adds a P.S., and it’s mailed.
SEVEN
At the postal station, one of the workers calls over the boss. Here’s a letter for Santa addressed to the courthouse rather than the North Pole. What if they got rid of that pile of undeliverable Santa mail by sending it to the courthouse?
EIGHT
Gailey, ready to concede, is alerted by the bailiff that mail has arrived. After proving the official capacity of the US postal service, he has bags and bags of letters dumped on the judge’s desk. If a distinguished and trusted institution, legally bound to deliver the mail with competent authority, considers this Kris Kringle to be the real Santa, then it must be true. He wins the case.
NINE
At the Christmas party, Susan looks in vain under the tree for her present. She wanted a real home, and Santa didn’t deliver. He apologizes and gives Mr. Gailey directions for driving back to the city. On the way, a circuitous route, Susan sits in the back seat chanting, “I believe, I believe.” Out the window she sees a home for sale, one that matches the picture she gave to Santa. They stop, Doris and Gailey commit to each other, and everyone lives happily ever after.
CRITICAL NOTES
Structurally, this is a beauty. At the Three, Santa is just a nice, old man with whiskers. At the Six, Doris believes. I especially like the Seven with the mail clerk deciding the fate of the plot.
A few social observations:
Doris is an executive at Macy’s with as much authority and respect as any of the men. No one makes a pass at her, no one disparages her. It’s not even suggested as a possibility.
Gailey joins Doris in the kitchen, donning an apron and helping without any prompting or fanfare. No one disparages him, and his behavior is treated as responsible and normal.
The only black person in the movie is Doris’ maid/nanny (Theresa Harris). She’s treated respectfully and without stereotype, but she is still a servant.
That moment when Susan repeats “I believe” like a mantra has become a touchstone for me. How many times in my own life, baffled and close to despair, have I thought of that moment? “I believe, I believe” is shorthand for the overwhelming sense of wanting something beyond our control while the only recourse is to have faith. How will Santa deliver a real world house as a Christmas present? He puts it in their path and lets them decide what to do with the surprise. Susan must see it and stop the car with her insistence. Doris and Gailey must become vulnerable and formalize a relationship in order to complete the gift. It’s corny as a film ending, but I love what it says about believing.