Star in the Night

I don't ever recall having seen this short film on TV, but it came as a bonus on a DVD I bought for another Christmas movie. This 22-minute film came out in theaters in October 1945. World War II had ended by late summer, and this would be the first Christmas in over a decade in which there would be peace from war on earth. So, the message of this modern day (1945) nativity story surely struck a chord with moviegoers that fall.

The setting is in the desert lands of the American Southwest. Three cowboys become the wise men when they follow a bright star in the desert to a roadway stop and motel. The star is a huge electric sign on a water tower, lit with dozens of bright light bulbs. Before that, other principals are on the scene, with the last to arrive being a young couple. The woman is about to have a baby, but there are no more rooms in the motel. The owners finally make a comfortable place for the couple out in the shed.

The entire cast are good in their roles. J. Carroll Naish is the innkeeper, Nick Catapoli. Donald Woods plays the hitchhiker and Rosina Galli plays Nicks wife, Rosa. The three cowboys are played by Richard Erdman, John Miles and Cactus Mack. The change of character that Nick and others experience reflect the message of Christmas nicely. As others have noted, this is a genuine gem of a short subject. Hollywood must have thought so as well, because "Star in the Night" won the 1945 Oscar for best short subject film.

Excellent retelling of the nativity

Christmas Eve in a desert in a south western state in the US and a young couple, Jose and Maria Santos, arrive at a remote motel. The cabins are full but, as the wife is expecting a child at any time, the owner is persuaded to allow them to stay in a shed. What happens next has an impact on all the people there.

Short drama, in essence a modern retelling of the Nativity story, which was the debut for director Don Siegel. It is a heartwarming tale which deservedly won an Oscar for Best Short Subject. Stars J. Carol Naish as the initially hardhearted motel owner with fine backup from the cast. A lesson for us all.

This is touching vintage short that usually appears between movies on TCM during the Christmas season. Now you can get it with the new DVD release of "Christmas In Connecticut" with Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan. It's included as a short on the DVD. Now I don't have to try and catch it with my TiVo this holiday season. "Star" is a wonderful Christmas featurette and is highly recommended. Will really get you into the Christmas spirit, guaranteed! The mysterious hitchhiker, Donald Woods, is really interesting. He seems to be guiding each individual through a process of recognizing the real spirit of Christmas. You may remember him from "True Grit" and many other movies. He made no less than 5 features and this featurette in 1945 (although his scenes in "God Is My Co-Pilot" were left on the cutting-room floor).

Star in the Night (1945)

**** (out of 4)

Brilliant updating of The Nativity Story has a small diner owner (J. Carrol Naish), a bitter man, opening his doors to a wide range of people on Christmas Eve. Included in this group are a hitchhiker (Donald Woods), a couple expecting a baby and three cowboys. Even though this film only runs 21-minutes I still think it's one of the best of the decade. The film won an Oscar for Best Short but it also marks the directorial debut of Don Siegel who would go onto direct several Clint Eastwood films. The movie tells a story we're all familiar with but it takes it to the next level with its warm characters and strong message. There's a mysterious undertone to the hitchhiker character that really reminds me of something we'd see decades later in The Twilight Zone. The future TV shows had the same feelings that are present in this film, which of course was made years later. Another strong thing are the performances with Naish leading the way. Naish was always a fine character actor but his performance here is chilling and might be the best I've ever seen from him. The same with Woods who brings so much life to his character even though he says very little. This film is flawless from start to finish so it's a real shame more people don't know it but thankfully Turner Classic Movies show it each year around the holiday.

The birth of Christ juxtaposed with story about a crowded inn out West, wherein a man and his pregnant wife come to get a room on December 24th, only to find lodging in the barn out back. Three Christmas-shopping cowboys stand in for the Three Wise Men, and there's a mysterious hitchhiker who comes in for a cup of coffee, observing everyone with a sympathetic eye. Academy Award-winning short subject from Warner Bros. probably wouldn't be so well-remembered if it weren't for its Oscar win, as well as for the direction by a young Don Siegel. J. Carrol Naish heads the cast as the inn-keeper, laying on the stingy Italian act with a butterknife ("Peece an'a brutherhood ees'a juss'a bunch'a baloney!"). Yet, as a do-gooder piece, this gets the job done in an efficient 25 minutes, and it's tough not to be moved by that tender final shot. Lushly orchestrated (by the incomparable William Lava) and nicely photographed. Worth-seeing.