Top Ten Christmas Movies - Number 5 - Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Legend has it that 8 year old Natalie Wood was convinced she was starring in a film with the real Santa Claus during production. Whether this is urban legend, or perhaps what she was led to believe by sneaky producers, is a case of life imitating art somewhat. Not only is this a story of a jolly old man, perceived as a lunatic when claiming to be the real Kris Kringle who ultimately has his day in court, but actor Edmund Gwenn was in fact Father Christmas in the 1946 Macy's Thanksgiving parade, all planned by 20th Century Fox, and all footage of the parade was shot live on location - a feat virtually unheard of at the time. Studio head Daryl F. Zanuck disliked the script so much, he forced writer / director George Seaton into an unconditionally assigned three picture deal, and pulled the release date forward to summertime to try and maximise box office profits. The film grossed four times its original budget, was nominated for an Oscar, and is ranked 9th on the AFI's Most Inspirational Movies of All Time.