Director
George Seaton
Leading Actors/Actresses
Maureen O'Hara, Fred Gailey, Edmund Gwenn
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Family
Language
English
Awards
Won 3 Oscars: Best Writing - Screenplay, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Writing - Original Story
Date of Release
1947
Producer
William Perlberg
Setting and Context
New York City 1947 - Christmas Season
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Kris, Fred, Doris and Susan
Tone and Mood
Dramatic, Comedic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonists are Kris and Fred. Antagonists are Doris, Dist Attorney Mara.
Major Conflict
Kris Kringle is institutionalized and sent to court for claiming he is Santa Claus.
Climax
Fred quits his high powered law firm to defend Kris and helps him to win his case. In doing so Doris believes in Santa Claus and Susan is taught what faith is.
Foreshadowing
Doris not believing in Santa Claus foreshadows her conflict with Kris.
Understatement
It is understated that Doris will believe in Santa Claus.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
N/A
Allusions
The film is an allusion to the necessity of imagination in a world chalked full of reason.
Paradox
The Judge needs hard evidence to let Kris go. Paradoxically, he allows letters from the Post Office to Santa Claus to be the evidence he needs to simply let him go.
Parallelism
Doris' belief in Santa parallels her daughter Susan's belief in him as well.
