This episode of The Deja Review, Mart & Trev put on their festive jumpers and head down 34th Street, where the true meaning of Christmas is decided… in a courtroom.

They begin with the 1947 original, a cosy black-and-white classic where a man claiming to be Santa Claus is taken seriously by an entire department store, a courtroom, and the American legal system. Mart is fully on board, soaking up the warmth, charm, and a time when Christmas films didn’t need a villain — just a judge with seasonal spirit. Trev enjoys it too, but can’t get past the fact that no one thinks to check Santa’s ID until the last 20 minutes.

Then it’s onto the 1994 remake, which swaps gentle charm for glossy ‘90s confidence, louder emotions, and Richard Attenborough delivering peak “twinkly-eyed Santa” energy. Mart admits he's waiting for a T-Rex to turn up, while Trev points out that the film now feels less like a miracle and more like a very expensive Christmas advert with legal paperwork.

Expect festive nostalgia, debates over which Santa you’d trust with your shopping list, and the shared conclusion that Christmas films used to be about belief… before they became about box office.

Two long time friends, one podcast.

This is The Deja Review.

Enjoy the episode and remember to like, follow and tell your friends.

As always a massive thank you to Little Foil Fish for our theme tune - ⁠ @LittleFoilFish ⁠

Mart & Trev

Instagram - ⁠@thedejareview

TIMESCALE

00:00 Introduction to Deja Review Podcast

02:31 Exploring Miracle on 34th Street

08:06 Cultural Impact and Remakes

09:59 Character Relationships and Morality

12:10 Unseen Parade

13:18 Film Analysis and Reception

24:15 Transition to the Remake

27:54 The Santa Dilemma: Mistakes and Consequences

30:46 Character Dynamics: Relationships and Changes

32:44 Cultural Updates: From Dutch Orphans to Deaf Children

34:41 Visual Storytelling: Cinematic Techniques and Nostalgia

36:54 The Nature of Santa: Reality vs. Illusion

38:30 Comparative Analysis: Original vs. Remake

44:18 5 to 1: Santa in Films

53:28 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Future Plans

Keywords

Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas movies, film remakes, character analysis, holiday classics, movie reviews, Deja Review, Mart and Trev, film discussion, nostalgia

#moviepodcast , #filmtalk , #cinemachat , #moviereview , #movielovers, #podcastrecommendations