Review of Miracle on 34th Street

I love the original 1947 film and I just despised this totally needless made-for-TV rehash. Sort of fitting to have Sebastian Cabot as Kris Kringle (but he can't match the delight of Edmund Gwenn), and I always like an appearance by Roddy McDowall (trying his best here to little avail as the psychiatrist)... but Jane Alexander and TV personality David Hartman were just TERRIBLE as the bland leads. Same holds true for the boring young actress who plays the crucial role of little Susan (that being the rather plain Suzanne Davidson). These three dead weights can't hold a candle to the original's Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and Natalie Wood. Elements of the original classic are just covered routinely out of obligation, and this is one boring and non-festive experience which doesn't even feel like Christmas much of the time. 0 out of ****