<P> Ignoring instructions to steer parents to buy from Macy's, Kris directs one shopper (Thelma Ritter) to a competitor . Impressed, she tells Julian Shellhammer (Philip Tonge), head of the toy department, that she will become a loyal customer . </P> <P> Attorney Fred Gailey (John Payne), Doris's neighbor, takes the young divorcée's daughter Susan (Natalie Wood) to see Santa . Doris has raised her to not believe in fairy tales, but Susan is shaken after seeing Kris speak Dutch with a girl who does not know English . Doris asks Kringle to tell Susan that he is not Santa, but he insists that he is . </P> <P> Worried, Doris decides to fire him . However, Kris has generated so much positive publicity and goodwill for Macy's that Macy (Harry Antrim) promises Doris and Julian bonuses . To alleviate Doris's misgivings, Julian has Granville Sawyer (Porter Hall) administer a "psychological evaluation". Kris passes, and questions Sawyer's own mental health . </P> <P> The store expands on the concept . To avoid looking greedy, competitor Gimbels implements the same policy, forcing Macy's and others to escalate . Eventually, Kris does the impossible: he reconciles bitter rivals Macy and Gimbel (Herbert Heyes). </P>

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