The 80th Anniversary of "Star in the Night"

Donald Woods and J. Carroll Naish in "Star in the Night"

Chances are good that if you have watched a lot of Turner Classic Movies during the Christmas season, then you have have seen a short subject titled "Star in the Night." Through repeat showings on TCM over the years, "Star in the Night" has become a favourite of many TCM fans, to the point that it is no longer counted as a mere interstitial, but as a featured presentation appearing on the TCM schedule. "Star in the Night' turned 80 this year. It was released on October 13, 1945.

"Star in the Night" centres on Nick Catapoli (J. Carroll Naish), who operates a small motel in the desert. Nick is cynical when it comes to Christmas, arguing that people behave poorly the rest of year and then fake being kind simply for the holidays. Nick finds his attitude changed with the arrival of a mysterious hitchhiker (Donald Woods) and then a young pregnant woman (Lynn Baggett) and her husband (Tony Caruso). It is essentially a cross between A Christmas Carol and the story of the Nativity.

"Star in the Night" was based on a story by Robert Finch, who would go onto write for such TV series as Hour Glass, Lights Out, and The Clock. Its screenplay was written by Saul Elkins,. who had written such films as Charlie Chan at the Race Track (1936) and Women in Prison (1938). The film marked the directorial debut of Don Siegel, who would go onto direct such movies as The Verdict (1946), Invasion of the Body Snatchers ((1956), The Lineup (1958), and Dirty Harry (1971). He began his career at the Warner Bros. library and became part of the studio's editorial department, creating montages for movies from Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) to Casablanca (1942). After providing montages for several Warner Bros. films the studio let him direct the short "Star in the Night" and the documentary short "Hitler Lives." 

The cinematography on "Star in the Night" was by Robert Burks, who began working in the film industry as a special effects photographer on Marked Woman in 1937. His first film as a cinematographer was the short "Jammin' the Blues." "Star in the Night" was the fifth film for which he provided cinematography. He also provided cinematography for Don Siegel's aforementioned documentary short "Hitler Lives." He would go onto work with Alfred Hitchcock on several films, including Strangers on a Train (1951), I Confess (1953), Rear Window (1954), and North by Northwest (1959), among others. 

"Star in the Night" has a strong cast. It gave J. Carroll Naish what may be his best role in the form of of Nick, one of the many ethnic parts he played in his long career (Nick was Italian American). Donald Woods, who played the hitchhiker, may be best known today for playing Dennis Lindsay, the husband of  Carmelita Fuentes (Lupe Vélez) in the first few Mexican Spitfire movies. He also appeared in movies from A Tale of Two Cities (1935)  (1935) to 13 Ghosts (1960). The film also features legendary character actor Dick Elliott as one of the motel's customers. Dick Erdman, who later appeared in the movie Stalag 17 (1954),  provided voices for several cartoons, and made numerous guest appearances, played one of three cowboys who see Nick's sign (a rather big, neon star) and decide to ride to it. Another cowboy was played by Johnny Miles, who appeared in minor roles in several movies form 1944 to 1950. A third cowboy was played by Cactus Mack. Cactus Mack was a cousin of both Rex Allen and Glenn Strange, and made a career out of appearing in B-Westerns and later TV Westerns, He played multiple roles on such Western TV shows as Lawman and Gunsmoke. 

"Star in the Night" won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Two-Reel) at the 18th Academy Awards. It was at that same awards that Don Siegel's documentary short "Hitler Lives" won the Oscar for est Short Documentary Film. In winning Academy Awards in two different categories of short subjects allowed Don Siegel to finally break into directing feature films. He would make his directorial debut with the classic film noir The Verdict in 1946. 

"Star in the Night" launched the directorial career of Don Siegel and provided J. Carroll Naish with a rare starring role. It certainly stands out from other Christmas-themed, theatrical shorts made over the years. Indeed, eighty years after its premiere "Star in the Night" remains popular.