Miracle on 34th Street Quotes
A lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing.
Kris Kringle: You think I'm a fraud, don't you?
Dorey Walker: Fraud is a bit too strong of a word.
Kris Kringle: But you don't believe in me.
Dorey Walker: I believe that Christmas is for children.
Kris Kringle: Well your daughter doesn't believe in me, either.
Dorey Walker: I don't think that there's any harm in not believing in a figure that many do acknowledge to be a fiction.
Kris Kringle: Oh, but there is. I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. You know, I I I'm a symbol. I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt.
Dorey Walker: Fraud is a bit too strong of a word.
Kris Kringle: But you don't believe in me.
Dorey Walker: I believe that Christmas is for children.
Kris Kringle: Well your daughter doesn't believe in me, either.
Dorey Walker: I don't think that there's any harm in not believing in a figure that many do acknowledge to be a fiction.
Kris Kringle: Oh, but there is. I'm not just a whimsical figure who wears a charming suit and affects a jolly demeanor. You know, I I I'm a symbol. I'm a symbol of the human ability to be able to suppress the selfish and hateful tendencies that rule the major part of our lives. If you can't believe, if you can't accept anything on faith, then you're doomed for a life dominated by doubt.
Fred Gailey: Your Honor, every one of these letters is addressed to Santa Claus. The Post Office has delivered them. Therefore the Post Office Department, a branch of the Federal Governent, recognizes this man Kris Kringle to be the one and only Santa Claus.
Judge Henry X. Harper: Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.
Judge Henry X. Harper: Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it. Case dismissed.
Dorey Walker: I don't care what you asked Mr. Kringle for. Susan, that is not why we're going to the house.
Susan Walker: We're going to the cataloged house, right? That's the house I told him I wanted. I showed him a picture of it and he took it and he said he would get for me.
Bryan Bedford: Well, a house is a pretty big gift, Susan.
Susan Walker: That's what Mr. Kringle said.
Dorey Walker: Honey, we are going to the house because it snowed. And it's very pretty. And because Mr. Shellhamer wants to take photographs for next years Christmas catalog. Which, I think, is awfully bold of him. It is a holiday.
Susan Walker: That's just an excuse. Mr. Kringle did all this. I'm very sorry Mother, you have it perfectly wrong.
Susan Walker: We're going to the cataloged house, right? That's the house I told him I wanted. I showed him a picture of it and he took it and he said he would get for me.
Bryan Bedford: Well, a house is a pretty big gift, Susan.
Susan Walker: That's what Mr. Kringle said.
Dorey Walker: Honey, we are going to the house because it snowed. And it's very pretty. And because Mr. Shellhamer wants to take photographs for next years Christmas catalog. Which, I think, is awfully bold of him. It is a holiday.
Susan Walker: That's just an excuse. Mr. Kringle did all this. I'm very sorry Mother, you have it perfectly wrong.
Fred Gailey: I must be a pretty good lawyer. I took a little old man and proved to the world that...
[looks off screen]
Doris: [sees a cane resting on the wall] Oh no, it can't be. It must have been left by the people who moved out.
Fred Gailey: Maybe... and maybe I didn't do such a good thing after all.
[looks off screen]
Doris: [sees a cane resting on the wall] Oh no, it can't be. It must have been left by the people who moved out.
Fred Gailey: Maybe... and maybe I didn't do such a good thing after all.
Bryan Bedford: Your Honor, a lot of people believe in Mr. Kringle. Including millions of children. If you rule against him, you won't destroy anyone's belief but you will destroy the man they believe in. Mr. Kringle is not concerned for himself, if he was he wouldn't be here. He is in this regrettable positon because he is willing to sacrifice himself for children. To create in their minds a world far better than the one we've made for them. If this is, as Mr. Collins suggests, a masquerade then Mr. Kringle is eager to forfeit his freedom to preserve that masquerade. To subject himself to prosecution to protect the children's right to believe. If this court finds that Mr. Kringle is not who he says he is, that there is no Santa, I ask the court to judge which is worse: A lie that draws a smile or a truth that draws a tear.
Susan Walker: There's no such thing as giants.
Fred Gailey: What about the one Jack killed?
Susan Walker: Jack? Jack who?
Fred Gailey: Jack from "Jack and the Beanstalk".
Susan Walker: I never heard of that.
Fred Gailey: Sure you have. You must have forgotten. It's a fairy tale.
Susan Walker: Oh... one of those. I don't know any of those. My mother thinks they're silly.
Fred Gailey: What about the one Jack killed?
Susan Walker: Jack? Jack who?
Fred Gailey: Jack from "Jack and the Beanstalk".
Susan Walker: I never heard of that.
Fred Gailey: Sure you have. You must have forgotten. It's a fairy tale.
Susan Walker: Oh... one of those. I don't know any of those. My mother thinks they're silly.
Charles Halloran: All right, you go back and tell them that the New York State Supreme Court rules there's no Santa Claus. It's all over the papers. The kids read it and they don't hang up their stockings. Now what happens to all the toys that are supposed to be in those stockings? Nobody buys them. The toy manufacturers are going to like that; so they have to lay off a lot of their employees, union employees. Now you got the CIO and the AF of L against ya and they're going to adore ya for it and they're going to say it with votes. Oh, and the department stores are going to love ya too and the Christmas card makers and the candy companies. Ho ho, Henry, you're going to be an awful popular fella. And what about the Salvation Army? Why, they got a Santy Claus on every corner, and they're taking a fortune. But you go ahead Henry, you do it your way. You go on back in there and tell them that you rule there is no Santy Claus. Go on. But if you do, remember this: you can count on getting just two votes, your own and that district attorney's out there.
Judge Henry X. Harper: The District Attorney's a Republican.
Judge Henry X. Harper: The District Attorney's a Republican.
District Attorney: What is your name?
Kris Kringle: Kris Kringle.
District Attorney: Where do you live?
Kris Kringle: That's what this hearing will decide.
Judge Henry X. Harper: A very sound answer, Mister Kringle.
District Attorney: Do you really believe that you're Santa Claus?
Kris Kringle: Of course.
District Attorney: [long pause] The state rests, your honor.
Kris Kringle: Kris Kringle.
District Attorney: Where do you live?
Kris Kringle: That's what this hearing will decide.
Judge Henry X. Harper: A very sound answer, Mister Kringle.
District Attorney: Do you really believe that you're Santa Claus?
Kris Kringle: Of course.
District Attorney: [long pause] The state rests, your honor.
Susan Walker: I can't sleep.
Dorey Walker: What's on your mind?
Susan Walker: Santa Claus.
Dorey Walker: Mr. Kringle? What about him?
Susan Walker: He talked sign language with a kid today.
Dorey Walker: That was considerate of him.
Susan Walker: He looks like every picture of Santa Claus I've ever seen.
Dorey Walker: I know. That's why I hired him.
Dorey Walker: What's on your mind?
Susan Walker: Santa Claus.
Dorey Walker: Mr. Kringle? What about him?
Susan Walker: He talked sign language with a kid today.
Dorey Walker: That was considerate of him.
Susan Walker: He looks like every picture of Santa Claus I've ever seen.
Dorey Walker: I know. That's why I hired him.
Kris Kringle: You see, Mrs. Walker, this is quite an opportunity for me. For the past 50 years or so I've been getting more and more worried about Christmas. Seems we're all so busy trying to beat the other fellow in making things go faster and look shinier and cost less that Christmas and I are sort of getting lost in the shuffle.
