 Davies also wrote a short novelization of the tale, which was published by Harcourt Brace simultaneously with the film's release.Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) is indignant to find that the man (Percy Helton) assigned to play Santa in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is intoxicated.When he complains to event director Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara), she persuades Kris to take his place.