Natalie Wood was directed by George Seaton.
Miracle on 34th Street ( initially released in the United Kingdom as The Big Heart ) is a 1947 Christmas comedy-drama film written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies . Natalie Wood . She was known for her screen roles in Miracle on 34th Street , Splendor in the Grass , Rebel Without a Cause , The Searchers , and West Side Story . She starred in the musical films West Side Story ( 1961 ) and Gypsy ( 1962 ) , and received Academy Award for Best Actress nominations for her performances in Splendor in the Grass ( 1961 ) and Love with the Proper Stranger ( 1963 ) .