PG | 46min | Drama, Family, Christmas | Episode aired 14 December 1955
One Kris Kringle, a department-store Santa Claus, causes quite a commotion by suggesting customers go to a rival store for their purchases. But this is nothing to the stir he causes by announcing that he is not merely a make-believe St. Nick, but the real McCoy. The production is followed by a preview of scenes from the Fox feature film The Rains of Ranchipur, starring Lana Turner, Richard Burton, Fred MacMurray, and Michael Rennie. This behind-the-scenes portion was produced and directed by Joe Parker.
Director: Robert Stevenson
Writers: John Monks Jr. , George Seaton
Stars: Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, Thomas Mitchell
One Kris Kringle, a department-store Santa Claus, causes quite a commotion by suggesting customers go to a rival store for their purchases. But this is nothing to the stir he causes by announcing that he is not merely a make-believe St. Nick, but the real McCoy. The production is followed by a preview of scenes from the Fox feature film The Rains of Ranchipur, starring Lana Turner, Richard Burton, Fred MacMurray, and Michael Rennie. This behind-the-scenes portion was produced and directed by Joe Parker.
Director: Robert Stevenson
Writers: John Monks Jr. , George Seaton
Stars: Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, Thomas Mitchell
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:30Sorry to interrupt your work, but you're making a serious mistake.
00:36Huh?
00:37With Reindeer, I mean.
00:38You're putting Prancer where Dasher should be.
00:41And Blitzen should always be on my right-hand side.
00:43He should, huh?
00:44Yes.
00:45And another thing, Domus Atlas have four points instead of three.
00:51But I don't suppose anyone would notice that except me.
00:54No, I don't suppose so.
00:56Say, who are you?
00:57My name is Kringle.
00:58Kris Kringle.
01:00Well, glad I could be of help.
01:02Bye.
01:03You see, it's all in your wrists, like throwing a ball.
01:17Now watch.
01:18See?
01:19Mrs. Walker, the new Santa Claus you hired is wonderful.
01:23Where'd you find him?
01:24We answered the ad along with a hundred others.
01:26He is good, isn't he?
01:28Well, the parade's ready to start.
01:30You coming?
01:31I'm going home and getting a hot tub.
01:33I may just stay there until next Thanksgiving.
01:36But you've worked so hard on the parade.
01:38If I want to, I can see it from the roof of my apartment.
01:40Bye.
01:50Look at that big baseball player.
01:52He was a clown last year.
01:54They just painted him different.
01:57My mother told me.
01:58She manages the parade.
02:00Wow.
02:01He's really a giant, isn't he?
02:03Really, Mr. Gaten.
02:04And you a lawyer.
02:06There are no such things as giants.
02:09Well, maybe not now, Susan, but in olden times,
02:11like the giant Jack killed in the fairy tale.
02:13Oh, one of those.
02:15I don't know any fairy tales.
02:17You mean your mother or father never read you any?
02:19My mother thinks they're silly,
02:21and I never met my father.
02:24You see, my mother and father
02:26were divorced when I was a baby.
02:28Well, that baseball player
02:30sure looks like a giant to me.
02:32Come in.
02:34Hello.
02:35My housekeeper told me Susan was here.
02:37I'm her mother.
02:38Yes, Susie's told me quite a bit about you.
02:40She's told me quite a bit about you, too.
02:42The man in the front apartment.
02:44Hi, dear.
02:46The parade's much better than last year.
02:48Good.
02:49I hope Mr. Macy agrees with you.
02:51Would you like a cup of coffee?
02:53Don't bother.
02:54No bother. It's ready.
02:58I want to thank you for being so kind to Susan.
03:00All part of the plot.
03:01Surest way to meet the mother is to be nice to the child.
03:03What a horrible trick.
03:05Susan tells me
03:07you don't approve of fairy tales.
03:09I don't.
03:11I think we should be realistic
03:13and completely truthful with our children.
03:15Not let them grow up believing in a lot of
03:17myths and legends.
03:19Like Santa Claus, for example.
03:22The parade's over, Mother. The acrobats were good.
03:24Those prices they should be.
03:26Mother, I was thinking.
03:28We've got such a big turkey for dinner
03:30and there are only two of us.
03:32Couldn't we invite Mr. Gailey?
03:34Couldn't we?
03:36Please don't bother. I'll just get a sandwich or something.
03:38It's an awful big turkey.
03:40It's not that, dear, but I'm sure Mr. Gailey has other plans.
03:42No, he hasn't.
03:44Have you?
03:46As a matter of fact, to be truthful
03:48and completely realistic with the child,
03:50Please, Mother, please.
03:52Didn't I ask her all right, Mr. Gailey?
03:54Well, that all depends.
04:00Dinner's at three o'clock.
04:06Susan, you asked just right.
04:17Before those screaming brats arrive,
04:19I'd like to give you a few pointers on how to be a good Santa Claus.
04:21Good.
04:23Now, here's a list of toys we have to push.
04:25You know, things we've overstocked.
04:27You'll find that a great many children are undecided
04:29as to what they want for Christmas.
04:31When this occurs, you immediately suggest one of these items.
04:33Do you understand?
04:35I certainly do.
04:37All right, here they come.
04:39You get up there and go to work and memorize that list.
04:41And remember, be jolly.
04:43I'm working for Macy's.
04:45Imagine that.
04:48That child takes something he doesn't want
04:50just because he bought too many of the wrong toys.
04:52That's what I've been fighting against for years.
04:54And what's that, Pop?
04:56Praying to commercialize Christmas.
04:58And a Merry Christmas to you.
05:00Now then, what's your name, little boy?
05:02Peter.
05:04And what do you want for Christmas, Peter?
05:06I want a fire engine just like the big ones,
05:08only smaller.
05:10It's got real hoses and squirts real water.
05:12I won't do it in the house, only in the backyard, I promise.
05:14Now, Peter, I see you're a very good boy.
05:16Get your fire engine.
05:18You see, I told you to get me one.
05:20Yes, dear.
05:22Well, look, you wait right over there.
05:24Mommy wants to thank Santa, too.
05:26What do you mean by saying a thing like that?
05:28I've been all over town trying to find that kind of a fire engine.
05:30Macy doesn't have one.
05:32Nobody's got one.
05:34But you can get those fire engines
05:36at the Acme Toy Company on West 46th Street.
05:38Only $4.50.
05:40Wonderful bargain.
05:42Oh, I follow the toy market pretty closely.
05:44Is Macy sending other people to other stores?
05:46The important thing is to keep the children happy.
05:48Whether Macy's or somebody else
05:50sell the toy,
05:52it doesn't matter, does it?
05:54Don't you feel that way?
05:56Me? Sure, but I didn't think Macy's did.
05:58I don't get it.
06:00I just don't get it.
06:02Oh, yes, we have skates.
06:04Nice, shiny skates,
06:06and they're very good, very good indeed.
06:08But I don't think they're the kind of skates you want.
06:10Now, they have really wonderful skates at Gimbel's.
06:14Gimbel's?
06:16The sales lady said I was to speak to you.
06:18Are you the head of the toy department?
06:20Yes, ma'am, yes.
06:22Well, look, I want to congratulate you
06:24on Macy's and this new stunt you're doing.
06:26Sending people to other stores.
06:28To think that a big store like this
06:30puts the spirit of Christmas
06:32before the commercial.
06:34I haven't done much shopping here before,
06:36but from now on,
06:38I'm a regular Macy customer.
06:40Oh!
06:42At Gimbel's?
06:46And
06:48when you come to see me
06:50at Macy's,
06:52I shall tell you all about the
06:54wonderful toys.
06:56This seems awful silly, Mr. Ganey.
06:58Well, maybe you'll feel differently
07:00after you've talked to Santa Claus.
07:02Goodbye, and Merry Christmas.
07:04What's your name, little girl?
07:06Susan Walker. What's your name?
07:08I'm fine. Chris Kringle.
07:10I'm Santa Claus.
07:12You don't believe that, do you?
07:14You see, my mother is
07:16Mrs. Walker, the lady who hired you.
07:18But I must say, you're the best-looking one
07:20I've ever seen. Thank you.
07:22Your whiskers don't have those things that go over your ears.
07:24That's because they're real,
07:26just like I'm really Santa Claus.
07:28Go on, pull them.
07:30Go ahead, pull them.
07:34That's it!
07:36And what do you
07:38want me to bring you for Christmas?
07:40Nothing, thank you. Whatever I want, my mother
07:42will get me. Sensible and doesn't
07:44cost too much.
07:46Susan, dear, I think you've taken up
07:48enough of this gentleman's time.
07:52Your maid had to go home. Her mother sprained
07:54her ankle. She asked me to bring Susan
07:56down here for you. Yes, she phoned.
07:58I thought as long as we were here,
08:00we might as well talk to Santa Claus.
08:02He's a nice old man, Mother.
08:04And his whiskers are real, too.
08:06Yes, dear. A lot of old men have real whiskers
08:08like that. Susan,
08:10if you'd like to go over and look at the dolls, I'll be with you in just a minute.
08:12I want to talk to Mr. Gailey.
08:14I didn't
08:16think there was any harm in saying hello
08:18to the old gent. I'm sorry. I think
08:20there is harm. I tell her Santa Claus
08:22is a myth, and you bring her down here to meet a
08:24very convincing old gentleman with real whiskers.
08:26What's wrong with that?
08:28By filling her full of fairy tales, she'll
08:30grow up to believe life is a fantasy instead
08:32of a reality. Keep waiting
08:34for Prince Charming to come along, and when he does,
08:36you'll be a... We were talking about Susie, not
08:38you.
08:40Whether you agree with me or not, I'll
08:42have to ask you to respect my wishes.
08:50You sent for me?
08:52Yes. Sit down, would you?
08:54This is a lovely little girl you have here.
08:58Susan's the reason I asked you to drop down.
09:00She's a little confused.
09:02Would you tell her that you're not really
09:04Santa Claus, that there's actually no such person?
09:06I'm sorry to disagree
09:08with you, Mrs. Walker, but not only is there
09:10such a person, but here I am to prove it.
09:12Oh, no,
09:14you don't understand. I want you to tell
09:16her the truth. What is your name?
09:18Kris Kringle. I'll bet you're in
09:20the first grade. Second.
09:22No, I mean your real name.
09:24It is my real name. Second grade.
09:26Good gracious.
09:28It's a progressive school.
09:30Progressive school.
09:32Well,
09:34where did you get such a lovely outfit?
09:36Macy's. We get ten percent
09:38off.
09:40Susan, would you go in and talk to
09:42Mrs. Adams for a minute? All right.
09:44Goodbye, young lady.
09:46Hope I see you again soon.
09:48I hope so, too. Bye.
09:54Kris Kringle. Address,
09:57Brooks Memorial Home for Aged.
09:59If you care to call them and ask for
10:01Dr. Pierce, he'll be happy to confirm it.
10:05Age is old as
10:07my tongue, and a
10:09little bit older than my teeth.
10:11Oh, really? Well, that's the
10:13truth. Next
10:15of kin, Donna
10:17Blitzen Prancer.
10:19And dancer.
10:27Uh,
10:29I'm sorry, Mr.
10:31Kringle.
10:33I'm afraid we're going to have to make a
10:35change. You see, the Santa Claus we
10:37had last year is back in town, and
10:39I feel I owe it to him to
10:41Have I done something wrong?
10:43No, no.
10:45Excuse me. Yes?
10:47Mr. Macy wants to see you immediately, Mrs.
10:49Brooks. Oh, yes, right away.
10:51You'll have to excuse me.
10:53Miss Adams will give you a voucher on the way out,
10:55and you'll receive a full week's salary.
11:13Now, about
11:15that new sales policy that you two seem
11:17to have initiated. It would have been better
11:19to clear it with the sales department first, don't you think?
11:21Mr. Macy, I... Macy
11:23Santa Claus sending customers to
11:25gimbals. Preposterous!
11:27What? Yet
11:29we cannot quarrel with success.
11:31Telephone calls, telegrams,
11:33over 500 parents
11:35expressing their undying gratitude to Macy's.
11:37So as a result,
11:39I've decided to make this the new sales policy
11:41for the entire store.
11:43If we haven't got what a customer wants, we'll send
11:45him where he can get it.
11:47This way, Macy's will be known as the store with a
11:49heart. The store that puts public
11:51service ahead of profits.
11:53And consequently, of course, we'll
11:55make more profits. Well,
11:57I just want to express our appreciation
11:59and to tell you that in your Christmas
12:01envelopes, there'll be a more practical
12:03expression of our gratitude. Thank you, Mr. Macy.
12:05That'll be all. Thank you.
12:07Oh, and tell that wonderful Santa Claus
12:09of yours that I haven't forgotten him either.
12:11No, no, never mind. I'll tell him myself
12:13in the morning.
12:21Imagine.
12:23A bonus.
12:25I fired him. Who?
12:27Santa Claus.
12:29No, no. He's crazy.
12:31He thinks he is Santa Claus. Oh, I don't
12:33care if he thinks he's the Easter Bunny. You better
12:35get him back. It's too great a
12:37risk. He might have a fit or something. I tell
12:39you, the man's insane. Maybe
12:41just a little bit insane.
12:43Mr. Sawyer.
12:45What? We'll get Sawyer to examine him.
12:47He's a psychologist. That's what he's being paid for,
12:49to examine the employees.
12:51We can't get him back. He's already gone.
12:53Well, then you better scoot out from him and get him,
12:55because if you don't, we're going to have a very
12:57unmerry Christmas.
13:01Oh, Mr. Kringle.
13:03Mr. Kringle. I'm afraid
13:05I acted rather hastily and perhaps
13:07unfairly. This other Santa Claus, well,
13:09Mr. Macy has found something else for him to do,
13:11and, well, we want you to stay on.
13:13Well,
13:15this is mighty good news. You see,
13:17Mrs. Walter, for 50 years or so,
13:19I've been more and more worried about Christmas.
13:21Christmas
13:23is not just a day, it's a frame of mind,
13:25and that's what they've been changing.
13:27Well, I'm glad you're taking me back. Maybe
13:29I can do something about it. And I'm glad
13:31I met you and your daughter. You're my test
13:33case. We are? Yes, in a way, you're the
13:35whole thing in miniature. And if I win
13:37you over, well, there's still hope.
13:39If not, I guess
13:41I'm through. But I'll try, and
13:43I'm warning you, I don't give up
13:45easily. Oh, well, Mr. Kringle,
13:47first thing in the morning, would you report
13:49to Mr. Sawyer's office for a little examination?
13:51Mental examination?
13:53Well, partly, yes.
13:55Oh, I don't mind. I've taken dozens. Haven't
13:57failed one yet. Here. How many days
13:59in the week? Seven. How many fingers do you see? Four.
14:01Muscular coordination?
14:03Perfect. Who was Vice
14:05President under James Monroe?
14:07Daniel D. Tompkins. I'll bet
14:09your Mr. Sawyer doesn't know that one.
14:15How much is three
14:17times five?
14:19You asked me that before.
14:21I'm conducting this examination. How much is
14:23three times five? Same as it was
14:25before. Fifteen. You're
14:27rather nervous, aren't you, Mr. Sawyer?
14:29Do you get enough sleep?
14:31My personal habits are of no concern to you.
14:33Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that I hate
14:35to see anyone all tied up.
14:39How many fingers do you see?
14:41Four.
14:43How many fingers do you see?
14:45Three. You bite your nails, too?
14:47I want you to stand
14:49up straight with your arms extended.
14:51Muscular coordination test.
14:53Surely I'll be glad to.
14:55You know,
14:57very often nervous habits like yours
14:59is caused by insecurity.
15:01Are you happy at home,
15:03Mr. Sawyer? That will be all,
15:05Mr. Kringle. The examination's over.
15:07You may go.
15:09And it may interest you
15:11to know that I've been a happily married man
15:13for twenty-six years.
15:15Oh, I'm delighted to hear it.
15:17Bye.
15:19Your wife,
15:21Mr. Sawyer?
15:23Agnes, how many times have I told you
15:25not to bother with the office? No, I give you
15:27a perfectly liberal allowance. If that fat, stupid
15:29brother of yours began a job, you wouldn't have to be pestering
15:31me all the time. Not a penny.
15:35How long have you known him, Dr. Pierce?
15:37Well, he wandered into the home about eight months ago.
15:39Looked the place over and said,
15:41well, it'll do. Just stayed on.
15:43Has he ever
15:45told you his real name? He said he was
15:47Chris Kringle. We never pressed him further.
15:49Mrs. Walker,
15:51after giving that man a comprehensive examination,
15:53it's my considered opinion that he should be dismissed immediately.
15:55Dr. Pierce, Mr. Sawyer.
15:57Excuse me, didn't Chris answer the questions correctly?
15:59Well, yes, he did, but there was a complete lack of
16:01concentration. There's no doubt about it, he should be
16:03placed in a mental institution. Wait a minute, people
16:05are institutionalized to prevent them from hurting
16:08themselves or other people.
16:10His is a delusion for good.
16:12He only wants to be friendly, helpful.
16:14Mrs. Walker, naturally
16:16I cannot discharge this man. So when
16:18he begins to exhibit his latent maniacal tendencies,
16:20which I assure you he will,
16:22the responsibility will be entirely yours.
16:28Dr. Pierce, if there's the slightest
16:30possibility of trouble, I... Now
16:32what trouble could Chris possibly get into?
16:34No.
16:36Coming to work, for instance,
16:38a policeman might ask him his name.
16:40You know that would get him into a fight.
16:42That could be avoided easily enough.
16:44Find someone here in the store to rent him a room.
16:46Then they could go to and from work together.
16:48Oh, yes, that would solve everything.
16:50That's a wonderful idea. Yes, isn't it?
16:52Your son's away at school.
16:54What about his room?
16:56I'll talk to Mrs. Shellhammer as soon as I get home.
16:58In the meantime, you take Chris home to dinner.
17:00Oh, no, I couldn't.
17:02Really, Mrs. Walker,
17:04if I can supply the room, the least you can do
17:06is furnish a free meal.
17:18What sort of games do you play, Susan?
17:20I don't play much with the children.
17:22They play silly games.
17:24They do?
17:26Like today. They were playing zoo.
17:28And all of the children were animals.
17:30Homer was supposed to be
17:32the zookeeper.
17:34He said, what kind of an animal are you?
17:36I said, I'm not an animal.
17:38I'm a girl.
17:40He said, only animals are allowed here. Bye.
17:42Oh, that's too bad.
17:44Sounds like a wonderful game to me.
17:46Of course, to play it right, you've got to have imagination.
17:48Do you know what imagination is?
17:50That's when you see something and it's really not there.
17:52Well, yes.
17:54But I believe imagination's a place by itself.
17:56You know, like...
17:58Well, you know the British nation
18:00and the French nation. Well, this is imagination.
18:04Say, how would you like to make snowballs
18:06in the summertime?
18:08Or drive a bus down Fifth Avenue?
18:10Or be the Statue of Liberty in the morning
18:12and in the afternoon a flock of geese
18:14flying south?
18:16Well, the first place
18:18you'd have to learn to pretend.
18:20That's imagination.
18:22And the next time they play zoo,
18:24you tell Homer you're a monkey.
18:26But I don't know how to be a monkey.
18:28I'll show you. Now, stand up.
18:30First, you bend way over.
18:32That's it. Keep your arms loose.
18:34Now, then you scratch.
18:40On the contrary, the firm of
18:42Hazelip, Sherman & Hazelip has been very good to me.
18:44But being an exceptional lawyer,
18:46I want to open my own office.
18:48Naturally.
18:52We're having our first lesson in pretending
18:54and we're doing pretty well, too.
18:56She'll be having nightmares for weeks.
18:58But she'll be having a lot of fun in the daytime.
19:04Hello?
19:06Oh, Mr. Shellhammer, that's fine.
19:08The Shellhammers have a room for you.
19:10That's very kind of them, but I've accepted
19:12Mr. Galey's offer to stay with him.
19:14Mr. Galey?
19:16I'll get the meat.
19:20Oh, thank you, Mr. Shellhammer, but it seems
19:22he's made other arrangements.
19:24Yes, well, goodbye.
19:26Well,
19:28here we are.
19:30Mmm, steak.
19:32No, it's venison. A friend of mine at the office gave it to me.
19:34What's venison?
19:36Dear meat, if you don't like it, I have eggs for you.
19:38Could I have eggs, too?
19:40Venison, you know.
19:42I couldn't.
19:46I forgot.
19:48There must be something
19:50you want for Christmas.
19:52Something that even your mother doesn't know about.
19:54Why don't you give me a chance?
19:56All right.
19:58That's what I want for Christmas.
20:00A doll's house like this?
20:02No, a real house.
20:04A real house?
20:06If you're really Santa Claus, you can get it for me.
20:08And if you can't,
20:10just a nice man with a white beard
20:12like Mother says.
20:14Well, just because every child doesn't get his wish,
20:16that doesn't mean there isn't a Santa Claus.
20:18That's what I thought you'd say.
20:20But what could you possibly want with a house like this?
20:22Living it with my mother.
20:24But you have this lovely apartment.
20:26But I want a backyard and a swing and...
20:28But you can't get it, huh?
20:30I didn't say that.
20:32Well, that's a tall order.
20:34But I'll do the best I can.
20:36May I keep this?
20:38Mm-hmm.
20:40Good night, Susan.
20:42Good night.
20:45Do you like living in the city?
20:47It's all right.
20:49I'd kind of like to get out in the country sometime, though.
20:51Not a big place, just one of those
20:53junior parking deals in Manhattan.
20:55I know the kind you mean.
20:57One of those colonial houses.
20:59That or Cape Cod.
21:01I've been thinking about Mrs. Walker.
21:05You know, like a lot of divorced women,
21:07she's determined that no one
21:09will ever hurt her again.
21:11And I've been thinking about
21:13no one will ever hurt her again.
21:15With a little more effort on your part,
21:17she might be made to crawl out of a shell.
21:21You know,
21:25those two are a couple of lost souls.
21:27It's up to us to help them.
21:31I'll take care of Susie,
21:33if you'll take care of her mother.
21:35It's a deal.
21:37Good. You ready?
21:39Oh, no, you don't.
21:41And now I'm gonna find out.
21:43I'm going to learn the answer to the question
21:45that's troubled the world for centuries.
21:48Does Santa Claus sleep with his whiskers inside or out?
21:52Always sleep with them out.
21:56Cold air makes them grow.
22:11This is one event
22:13I never expected to see.
22:15Two can play at this game, Mr. Macy.
22:17If Gimbel's haven't got
22:19what the customer wants,
22:21we'll send him over to Macy's.
22:23It'll be a pleasure, Mr. Gimbel.
22:25Ha, ha, ha.
22:27Ha, ha, ha.
22:29Ha, ha, ha.
22:31Ha, ha, ha.
22:33Ha, ha, ha.
22:35Ha, ha, ha.
22:37Ha, ha, ha.
22:39Ha, ha, ha.
22:43There they sat.
22:45Adult, but children still.
22:47Children at heart.
22:49It was summer. Warm, glorious summer.
22:51The end.
22:53Did you like that story, Susan?
22:55Mr. Kringle,
22:57do you think I'm going to get my house for Christmas?
22:59Well, I can't promise,
23:01but we mustn't give up hope.
23:03Good night, Susan.
23:05Tomorrow evening I'll read you another story.
23:07I'm glad to go to school.
23:09Isn't this vacation?
23:11Yes, but this is what they call a required function.
23:13Required function?
23:15The Fillmore Progressive School
23:17requests your presence
23:19at a special performance of a Christmas play
23:21to be given in the modern manner.
23:23What does that mean?
23:25A Christmas play without Santa Claus.
23:27Well,
23:29a Christmas play without
23:31a Santa Claus?
23:33The performance will be filled
23:35by a short address
23:37subject
23:39Exploding the Myth
23:41of Santa Claus.
23:45The guest speaker
23:47will be Mr. Albert
23:49Sawyer.
23:55I'm very happy
23:57you enjoyed our little play.
23:59And now it gives me great pleasure
24:01to introduce our old friend
24:03Mr. Albert Sawyer.
24:09Pairs
24:11and young people
24:13it's thrilling
24:15indeed to see so many happy
24:17smiling faces.
24:19I know you're all looking forward
24:21to a joyous Christmas,
24:23but as those of you in this intelligent group
24:25know, this is going to be a Christmas
24:27without Santa Claus.
24:29Such a person as Santa Claus
24:31Saint Nicholas
24:33or Kris Kringle does not exist.
24:35Never has existed
24:37and never will exist.
24:39This silly old man
24:41in his red suit represents
24:43the wishful dreaming of all people.
24:47He's the all-giver,
24:49the generous father.
24:51Mature adults who keep this myth alive
24:53are clinging to childish
24:55fantasies and show themselves
24:57afraid to face realities.
24:59People who
25:01play Santa have a strong feeling
25:03of guilt.
25:08I see nothing to laugh at.
25:10Far from being amusing
25:12this myth.
25:16Far from being amusing
25:22Far from being amusing
25:24this myth is actually harmful.
25:26Only stupid old men
25:28dancing around in white whiskers
25:30keep this ridiculous myth alive.
25:32Now he's gone too far.
25:40He became violent because I attacked
25:42his delusions and he'll do it again.
25:44Well, if you ask me, I think we ought to get an outside psychiatrist
25:46to examine him.
25:48Then you better do it right away before Mr. Macy hears about it.
25:50That's right. You explain it to Mr. Kringle.
25:52After all, you're his friend.
25:54No, I can't. I've grown very
25:57fond of him and this is going to hurt him deeply.
25:59Well, I just can't.
26:01All right, what can we do?
26:03I think I have it.
26:05You tell Kringle Mrs. Walker wants him to leave at once
26:07in order to have some publicity pictures taken with the mayor.
26:09I'll have a car waiting outside and once we get him
26:11in the car, we'll drive him straight off to Bellevue Hospital.
26:13Yes, that'll do it.
26:15I'll ride up front
26:17with the driver.
26:27Hello, Chris.
26:29Hello, Fred.
26:31You flunked that psychiatrist examination deliberately, didn't you?
26:33Why?
26:35I had great hopes, Fred.
26:37I had a feeling
26:39that Mrs. Walker was beginning to believe in me.
26:41Now I know
26:43she was only humoring me all the time.
26:45Mrs. Walker didn't know what to do.
26:47She didn't know what to do.
26:49She didn't know what to do.
26:51She didn't know what to do.
26:53She didn't know what to do.
26:55Mrs. Walker didn't know anything
26:57about taking pictures with the mayor.
26:59That was Mr. Sawyer's idea.
27:01It isn't just Mrs. Walker.
27:03Take Sawyer.
27:05Contemptible. Deceitful.
27:07Dishonest.
27:09But he's out there and I'm here.
27:11If that's normal,
27:13I don't want it.
27:15But you can't just think of yourself.
27:17What happens to you matters to a lot of people.
27:19People like me who believe in you and what you stand for.
27:21People like Susie who were just beginning to.
27:23Chris, you can't let him down.
27:27You're right. Let's get out of here.
27:29Now wait a minute. You flunked that examination, but good.
27:31Yes.
27:33I said our first president was Calvin Coolidge.
27:35Oh, but you can fix that.
27:37You'll think of something.
27:39Now take it easy. A judge is going to be asked to sign papers
27:41committing you to a mental institution.
27:43The only chance
27:45would be to prove you legally sane
27:47at a public hearing.
27:49Good. I can think of nothing better.
27:51Don't you see?
27:53That will settle the question once and for all.
28:15You solemnly swear
28:17the evidence you are about to give at this hearing
28:19is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
28:21I do.
28:23Good morning, Your Honor.
28:25Good morning.
28:27You may proceed, Mr. District Attorney.
28:31My name's Thomas Mara.
28:33What's yours?
28:35Chris Kringle.
28:37Where do you live?
28:39That's what this hearing will decide.
28:41It's a very sound answer, Mr. Kringle.
28:43Thank you, Your Honor.
28:45Tell me.
28:47Do you really believe that you're Santa Claus?
28:49Of course!
28:54The state rests, Your Honor.
28:58In view of this statement,
29:00do you still wish to put in a defense, young man?
29:02I do, Your Honor.
29:04I'm fully aware of my client's opinions.
29:06In fact,
29:08that is the entire case against him.
29:10But Mr. Kringle is not sane
29:12because he believes himself to be Santa Claus.
29:14An entirely logical assumption, I'm afraid.
29:16Not necessarily, Your Honor.
29:18You believe yourself to be Judge Harper,
29:20yet no one questions your sanity
29:22because you are Judge Harper.
29:24Mr. Kringle is the subject of this hearing, not me.
29:26Exactly.
29:28So I intend to prove that Mr. Kringle
29:30is Santa Claus.
29:40What does Mr. Haislip
29:42of Haislip, Sherman & Haislip
29:44say about the trial?
29:46That I was jeopardizing the dignity of the firm
29:48that I either dropped the case or they dropped me.
29:50So, leaving me no choice,
29:52I quit.
29:54Oh, Fred, you didn't.
29:56Well, I can't let Chris down.
29:58He needs me and all the rest of us need him.
30:00Darling,
30:02he's a kind, wonderful old man,
30:04but
30:06well, you can't throw away your career because of sentiment.
30:08I'm not throwing a career away.
30:10I'll get by. I'm a darn good lawyer.
30:12This doesn't shake your faith
30:14in me, does it?
30:16This is a question of
30:18common sense, not faith.
30:20Faith is believing in things
30:22when common sense tells you not to.
30:26I wish you could let yourself
30:28believe in people like Chris
30:30and in fun and love
30:32and joy and all the other intangibles.
30:34You can't pay the rent
30:36with intangibles.
30:38And you can't live without them.
30:40Why don't you try a little blind faith,
30:42darling? String along.
30:44I think you've got a right
30:46to ask that.
30:48I think I have the right to ask
30:50you to be a little bit more practical
30:52and realistic.
30:54Yeah, I suppose you have.
30:56It's all cockeyed.
31:00Here we are as close as two people can possibly
31:02be, and yet there's a
31:04loneliness about it.
31:06I've
31:09tried my best.
31:11I know you have, darling, and so have I.
31:13But we're gonna need a lot more than each other's arms.
31:15Somehow
31:17I just don't think we've got it.
31:23Funny,
31:25with all my common sense
31:27I was just beginning
31:29to think this time it might work out.
31:31So was I, but
31:35can I help you trim the tree?
31:37Thanks, I can do it.
31:41Well,
31:43good night.
31:45Good night.
31:57Your name, sir?
31:59R.H. Macy.
32:01Do you recognize this man?
32:07Yes, he's an employee of mine.
32:09Chris Kringle. Do you believe him to be
32:11of sound mind? I certainly do.
32:13Mr. Macy, you're
32:15under oath. Do you really
32:17believe that this man is Santa Claus?
32:33Do you?
32:37I do.
32:39That is all.
32:47You are fired.
32:51Your Honor,
32:53there is no such person as Santa Claus
32:55and everybody knows it.
32:57I ask that the court make an immediate ruling.
32:59Is there or is there not
33:01a Santa Claus?
33:03I, uh,
33:07uh,
33:09this court will take a short recess
33:11to consider the matter.
33:15I don't care about the law, I'm talking
33:17about politics. You go back in there
33:19and rule that there's no Santa Claus, we won't be
33:21even able to put you in the primaries.
33:23Charlie, Charlie,
33:25I'm a responsible judge.
33:27How can I seriously rule that there is
33:29a Santa Claus? All right, go back in there and rule
33:31there isn't. The kids read about it
33:33so they don't hang up their stockings.
33:35So what happens to all the toys that are supposed to be in them stockings?
33:37Nobody buys them.
33:39Oh, the toy manufacturers are gonna
33:41love that. What about the Christmas
33:43card makers, the candy companies?
33:45Oh boy, are you gonna be a
33:47popular guy. And what about the
33:49Salvation Army? They got a Santa Claus on
33:51every corner. Henry, I'm
33:53telling you, if you go back in there
33:55and rule that there's no Santa Claus,
33:57you can count on getting just two votes.
33:59Your own and the district attorney's
34:01out there.
34:05One.
34:07District attorney's Republican.
34:09The court will rise.
34:21This court has just
34:23consulted the highest authority
34:25available.
34:27The traditions of
34:29American justice
34:31demand a broad
34:33and unprejudiced
34:35view of
34:37such a controversial
34:39matter. And therefore
34:41this court is determined
34:43to keep an open mind
34:45and hear the
34:47evidence from either
34:49side.
34:51But can my opponent produce
34:53any evidence in support of this
34:55contention? Your honor, I can.
34:57Will
34:59Thomas Mara take the
35:01stand? Who, me?
35:03Thomas Mara Jr.
35:05Thomas Mara.
35:11Hi Daddy.
35:17Tommy, you know the difference between telling the truth
35:19and telling a lie, don't you?
35:21Everybody knows you shouldn't tell a lie.
35:23Especially in court.
35:25Do you believe in Santa Claus? Sure I do.
35:27And what does he look like?
35:29He is sitting over there.
35:31I object, your honor.
35:33Overruled.
35:35Tommy, why are you so sure
35:37there's a Santa Claus? Because
35:39Daddy told me so. Didn't you,
35:41Daddy?
35:43And you believe your Daddy, don't you?
35:45Sure I do. Daddy
35:47wouldn't tell me anything that wasn't so,
35:49would you, Daddy?
35:53Thank you, Tommy.
35:55He, he, he, he.
35:57Bye, Daddy.
36:03The state of New York
36:05is willing to concede
36:07the existence of a Santa Claus.
36:11But I ask
36:13that Mr. Gailey produce a tharted
36:15of evidence that Mr. Kringle is the one
36:17and only Santa Claus.
36:21Your, your
36:23point is well taken, Mr. Mara.
36:33Mr. Gailey, I,
36:35are you ready to show that
36:37Mr. Kringle is
36:39Santa Claus? On the basis
36:41of competent authority.
36:43Not at this time, your honor.
36:45I ask for an adjournment
36:47until this time tomorrow. This court
36:49stands adjourned until three o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
36:53That's all ready.
36:55What are you doing? Writing
36:57to Mr. Kringle to tell him I believe in
36:59everything he told me. Everything will turn out
37:01fine. That's nice,
37:03you'll like that.
37:05Where shall I send it?
37:07Why don't you send it to the county courthouse?
37:09Okay.
37:15What did you write, Mother?
37:19I believe in you too,
37:21Doris.
37:23Go take your bath now.
37:39Uh, could you give me the number
37:41of the main post office, please?
37:45Hello, dead letter office.
37:47Are you
37:49kidding? We got maybe a couple hundred thousand.
37:51Yes, ma'am,
37:53we sure would.
37:57Hey, lady, that's not a bad
37:59idea.
38:11Chris, I've got bad news for you.
38:13I've tried every way to get some competent authority.
38:16Why, the mayor, the governor,
38:18every citizen, and means
38:20more to me than all the mayors
38:22and governors in the world.
38:26It's all over, he hasn't got a thing.
38:36Your honor, the defense has yet to produce one bit
38:38of authoritative proof that this man is really
38:40Santa Claus. And in view
38:42of the fact that it is Christmas Eve and we're
38:44all anxious to get to our homes,
38:46I ask that these commitment papers be signed without
38:48further delay.
38:50Mr. Gailey, have you anything
38:52further to offer?
38:54I should like to submit the following
38:56evidence, your honor. It concerns an official
38:58agency of the United States government.
39:00The post office department, one of the world's
39:02largest business concerns, did a gross business
39:04last year of $1,112,877,174.
39:10Your honor, I'm sure
39:12they're all deeply gratified to know that the
39:14post office department is doing nicely
39:16but it hardly has any bearing on this case.
39:18Furthermore, the U.S. post laws
39:20make it a criminal offense to willfully misdirect
39:22mail or intentionally deliver it to the wrong party.
39:24Yeah, your honor. I'm sure
39:26that the state of New York is willing to admit
39:28that the post office department
39:30is authoritative, prosperous,
39:32and efficient. For the record. For the record.
39:34Anything to get on with this case.
39:36Then, your honor, I offer
39:38these letters in evidence.
39:40They're simply addressed to Santa Claus.
39:42Yet they were each delivered
39:44to Mr. Kringle by Bonafide
39:46employees of the post office department.
39:48I offer these as authoritative proof.
39:50Your honor, three letters are hardly
39:52authoritative proof. I have further
39:54exhibits, your honor, but I hesitate
39:56to reduce them. Oh, I'm sure we'd all be glad
39:58to see them. Oh, yes, indeed.
40:00Put them on my desk.
40:02On your desk? Yes, yes.
40:04Very well,
40:06your honor.
40:10Here you are.
40:37Your honor, every one of these letters
40:39is addressed to Santa Claus, and the
40:41post office has delivered them to my client.
40:43Therefore, the United States
40:45government recognizes this man,
40:47Chris Kringle, as Santa Claus.
40:52If the United States of America
40:54believes this man is Santa Claus, then this
40:56court will not dispute it.
40:58Case dismissed.
41:02Thank you, your honor, and a Merry Christmas to you.
41:04And a Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Kringle.
41:06Oh, I got your note. It'd make me very happy.
41:08Oh, I'm glad. Won't you come to dinner tonight?
41:10I know. I'm working tonight.
41:12You see, it's Christmas Eve.
41:16Merry Christmas!
41:24What's the matter with Susan?
41:26I think she misses Chris.
41:30Don't worry, young lady. Chris is bound to come.
41:32Didn't get my present, Uncle Fred.
41:34Why, darling,
41:36you got a lot of presents.
41:38Not the one I wanted.
41:40Not the one Mr. Kringle was going to get
41:42for me.
41:44What was that?
41:46It doesn't matter. I didn't get it.
41:48I knew
41:50it wouldn't be here, but I
41:52get a letter or something about it.
41:56Hello?
41:58Hello, Susan. Merry Christmas.
42:02Well, it wasn't really a promise.
42:04I said I'd do my best.
42:06You couldn't get it because you're not Santa Claus.
42:08That's why.
42:10Just a nice man with white whiskers like my mother says.
42:14I shouldn't have believed you.
42:16Susan!
42:18Merry Christmas, Chris.
42:20I'm sorry. Susan is disappointed in me.
42:22Oh, she'll be all right.
42:24Here's Fred.
42:26Merry Christmas. Where are you?
42:28Out at the home. Fred?
42:30We're giving a little party
42:32this afternoon.
42:34Will you bring Mrs. Walker and Susan out
42:36to help us celebrate?
42:38Of course I will.
42:40You turn off the parkway at Seymour.
42:42Drive three blocks, then turn onto Ashley Drive.
42:44You'll see it on the right.
42:46Got it.
42:48Bye.
42:52Susan,
42:54I was wrong when I told you
42:56not to believe in Mr. Kringle.
42:58You must have faith in him.
43:00But he didn't get me.
43:02That doesn't make sense, Mother.
43:06Faith is believing in things
43:08even when common sense tells you not to.
43:12I mean, even though things don't work out
43:14the way you want them to the first time,
43:16you still gotta believe in people.
43:20I'll try.
43:26There it is.
43:29That's Ashley Drive.
43:31I do believe.
43:33I do believe.
43:35I do.
43:39Stop, Uncle Fred! Stop!
43:45Susan!
43:51Susan!
43:53Susan,
43:55you shouldn't be running around
43:57in other people's houses.
43:59But this is my house, Mommy.
44:01The one I asked Mr. Kringle for.
44:03Now, Susan, darling.
44:05It is, it is. I know it is.
44:07Oh, you're right, Mommy.
44:09If things don't turn out right
44:11the first time,
44:13you've still got to believe.
44:15Mr. Kringle is Santa Claus.
44:17He is.
44:19I'm going to see my swings.
44:21The house seems to be for sale.
44:25We can't let it down.
44:27Oh, Fred.
44:33Darling, I always believed in you.
44:35It's just my ridiculous common sense.
44:37Well, it even makes sense
44:39to believe in me now.
44:43I take a little old man
44:45and legally prove that he's Santa Claus.
44:47Now, you know,
44:49Oh, no.
44:55It must have been left
44:57by one of the tenants.
44:59Maybe.
45:01Maybe I didn't do
45:03such a remarkable thing after all.
45:19THE END
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