Trailblazing on 34th Street

While many dust off their DVD of the classic 1947 Christmas film, Miracle on 34th Street at this time of year, how many have actually taken the time to notice that Doris Walker, the divorced single mom played by Maureen O'Hara, was, in fact, a working mom who was well ahead of her time?

True, it's hard to overlook the cherubic performance of a young Natalie Wood as Doris' second grade daughter Susan, complete with her enthusiastic bubble gum chewing and heart-breaking request for Santa to get her and her mother a house in the 'burbs with a swing hanging from a tree in the backyard.

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Comments

[mamacat]

One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. My biggest complaint about the movie is that it doesn't last longer. And you are right about how the background of the characters could have been expanded. Perhaps the movie was meant as very lighthearted fare, sort of a movie version of a short story. Wouldn't it be great if Maureen O'hara had made even more movies? She was such an appealing on-screen character, no matter who she played.

[heyguy]

she was a middle of road modern mom was living in mainstream society..i saw this peice as aperfect example,thoght you might like it too

http://bphouse.com/blaze/bush/