Valentine Davies story, adapted by Seaton, never lets on whether Kris Kringle is real or not, delivering most satisfying Christmas legend which is as much about belief and commerce as it is about anything else. Maureen O'Hara is typically edgy, Edmund Gwenn totally lovable as Santa, Natalie Wood delightful, John Payne adequate. Has an interesting on-location feel, not much music (20th Fox). Gene Lockhart is the judge who - for political reasons - cannot deny the existence of Santa, Porter Hall the 'psychiatrist'. Twist with post office worker fabulous, though the highlight of the show is Gwenn and Wood pretending to be monkeys.
Thanks to IMDB:
"When Dr. Pierce explains Kris' belief that he is Santa Claus, he offers for comparative purposes a Hollywood restaurant owner who believes himself to be a Russian prince despite evidence to the contrary, but rather conveniently fails to recall the man's name. This was a reference to Michael Romanoff, owner of Romanoff's in Hollywood, a popular hangout for movie stars at the time [who was a con man and not a Russian prince]."
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