What did you think of 'Star in the Night' (1945)? - Star in the Night (1945) Discussion

[–] Adler-99 17 years ago

I liked it but found a few spots painfully corny, like the three goofy cowboys. The bright side of the short to me was seeing Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans portrayed as normal, sympathetic characters, which was very rare in Hollywood in the 1940s.

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

That's true. Naish's character in most other films would have been a cartoon.

... Justin

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[–] DoctorStrangelove 17 years ago

I taped this last month and just watched it... got all choked up! It's the kind of sweet story I think everyone should hear all year 'round.

The Astronaut Farmer - 6/10

He who is tired of Weird Al is tired of life.

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[–] J. Spurlin 17 years ago

I didn't like it as much as you; but it is sweet. Thanks for replying.

... Justin

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

The bright side of the short to me was seeing Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans portrayed as normal, sympathetic characters, which was very rare in Hollywood in the 1940s.

Could you, perhaps, expand on this by citing some of the many 1940's films in which Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans are portrayed as abnormal, unsympathetic characters? I'm not familiar with them.

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[–] cehbch 16 years ago

WHAT A GREAT CHRISTMAS MOVIE !!

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[–] J. Spurlin 16 years ago

It's not well known either. Where did you see it? On cable?

...Justin

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

I was just on TCM 7:38 PM TO 8:00 PM (EST). It played after "Remember the Night." My wife and I loved "Star in the Night." This was the first film by the director who would go on to make Dirty Harry.

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] J. Spurlin 16 years ago

Oh, yeah! I forgot that! Not much Dirty Harry in this movie, though.

...Justin

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[–] cehbch 16 years ago

I HAVE IT ON DVD!

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"Did you like it? Hate it?"

Always with the questions....

I must admit it took me a bit by surprise when I saw it once and for the first time last season, and was only reminded of it upon catching the last couple seconds the other night....

As above, was also surprised by the ethnicity of the cast, not to mention this might have been viewed as being in very poor taste or whatever in 1945....doing a modern version of a Biblical story, esp this Bible story (????)

I liked it in spite of its flaws, (and in fact as above, might some of those have been a requirement for the time frame???? I believe I viewed it as if they may have been)....agree with with your defrosting of the snowman comment :)

Will have to rewatch it, again only saw it once....

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] J. Spurlin 16 years ago

Hi, xy!

I wonder if there were any difficulties in re-telling the story with modern players. Were there any objections from censors, the studio, the audiences? It seems so inoffensive now. But who knows?

...Justin

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"It seems so inoffensive now."

I was thinking about the same reactions/objections. "Uh....its the Vatican on the phone....just to let the entire cast and crew know they have all been excommunicated. Have a nice day !!!!"

On the other hand, it did win an Oscar for best 'short'....

The film might have been a "gutsy" move, and may have had to be done just right (or just wrong maybe) to pass public inspection. (????)

Well not to OT this thread (snicker, snicker) but it might be viewed as being more offensive to some now than then, with the "Christmas War" and all that, not to mention some at least claim offense to almost anything now. Unsure if that would be true of the US post-war population.

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] J. Spurlin 16 years ago

I don't remember the references to the war. It's been a year since I started this thread, and I haven't seen the film since. I may have to pick up the DVD of Christmas in Connecticut again. (That's where I first saw it. The short is included as a bonus.)

...Justin

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

>>...but it might be viewed as being more offensive to some now than then, with the "Christmas War" and all that, not to mention some at least claim offense to almost anything now.<<

I am one of the people that hate the fact that when I go to buy my parents a Netflix subscription, they don't have a Merry Christmas message as a choice for the gift. They have two "holiday" choices. Blockbuster does the exact same thing for their Total Access gift subscriptions. So yes, it does piss me off that even though 90% of the gift subscriptions they sell are likely Christmas presents, they only offer two generic Holiday gift messages. At least, Starbucks offers both Christmas and Holiday versions of the same coffee.

Now that I have established myself as one of those "Christmas War" people that you were referring to, I can tell you that I was not offended by "Star in the Night" and I doubt many Christians would be.

I would suspect that if anyone would be offended it would be the Politically Correct crowd. Why? Because the actor playing the "innkeeper" is not the ethnicity that he is playing. He is in fact an Irish guy born and bred in NYC that made his career playing ethnic roles ranging from Italian to Arab.

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

LOL, I couldn't agree with you more, and I'm Jewish. Christmas is indeed a religious holiday--everyone loves it but they're simultaneously offended by the fact of what it is. And as one of the proudly non-PC, I find THAT offensive.

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

>>And as one of the proudly non-PC, I find THAT offensive.<<

Kudos and a Happy Hanukkah AND Merry Christmas to you.

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

And a Merry Christmas to you, too! I should add here that there's a Franciscan college in Brooklyn Heights that puts up a huge menorah every year for Hanukkah along with their Christmas decorations (I used to sing with their chorus every year). It's run by Third-Order Regular Brothers and I mentioned to one that if he liked, I'd teach him the nightly blessings in Hebrew. He said that the only reason it wasn't lit was because doing so would be in violation of the safety code and but for that, it would be lit with the appropriate prayers every night (I love the Franciscans). I thought that was wonderful and on that note, I also wish YOU a Happy Hanukkah!

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

>>I should add here that there's a Franciscan college in Brooklyn Heights that puts up a huge menorah every year for Hanukkah along with their Christmas decorations...<<

That is really cool. In recent years, there has been a major trend for Christians to embrace Christianity's Jewish roots.

I had a coworker that wore both a Star of David and a Cross. She was an evangelical but she would also go to the local Messianic synagogue (Messainic Jews) during Jewish holidays. Another coworker participates in a Christianized Passover Seder.

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Passover.html

As the world becomes more secular, Christians and Jews have become closer. The latter is a good trend.

Shalom to you, my friend.

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

That is really cool. In recent years, there has been a major trend for Christians to embrace Christianity's Jewish roots.

I agree. I sang in a choir in a local Franciscan church (one of three Jews--the music was of a very high level and the choir was semiprofessional) until recently and I got to understand the Jewish connection much more extensively through the liturgy. I was very touched, too, that every year during Passover, prayers for the Jewish people were invoked, and not in a proselytizing manner, either. A very good trend and a step towards true ecumenism. There's hope yet!
Shalom to you, too!

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"Now that I have established myself as one of those "Christmas War" people that you were referring to, I can tell you that I was not offended by "Star in the Night" and I doubt many Christians would be."

Hummm....I am unsure how to appologize for the casual use of this term "Christmas War" but will try....

First, there are two sides in every war, a third group being 'civilians' or non-combatants which is the group I fall into. A fourth group might be 'retailers' who are caught in the middle and wonder "What are we supposed to do with this????"

It is my beleive that "The Christmas War" was started by an increadably small number of individuals on both sides, who as opposed to being offended by any of this, simply saw 'an angle' on Christmas, and just took 'advantage' of it for whatever purpose they had in mind. Unfortunately it gained momentum.

At present I am helping elderly family members with their first e-mail account and do feel a bit inundated by the amount of "Christmas War" armaments provided by the "Christian side" on their e-mail account. I did grow a little concerned as, as far back as I can remember these same people like I did, used "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" in an interchangable way, but now are urged to stop and correct those who use "Happy Holidays". I beleive there are organizations who offer things one can buy to assist one in this "stop and correct" process.

Not to dig my hole any deeper however unsure how the originator of the holiday, who's birthday is being celebrated might feel about this whole procedure???? It is my beleif He would rely on His follower's personal actions to be, as always, a reflection of His presence and would not at all condone any type of anger, hostility or confrontation with regard to 'the war' which is in regard to His birthday.

This is not to let the 'other side' off the hook though. Hard for me to beleive some find offence to the equivelent of saying "Have a nice time"/etc.

Again I consider the real 'players' on either side to be very very small....

"At least, Starbucks offers both Christmas and Holiday versions of the same coffee."

Unsure why this is so hard, that would be my approach. Have no real comment on the reaction from "the middle ground", but as in every situation a compromise is possible.

So in fact you have not demonstrated you are a Christmas war person, but I suspect you are annoyed by the reaction to it like myself and a lot of other people. I agree very few Christians would find any fault with this movie. Again I appologize (for the typos), and any implied finger pointing with regard to the use of "The Christmas War"

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

>>...feel a bit inundated by the amount of "Christmas War" armaments provided by the "Christian side" on their e-mail account.<<

So for balance, I will inundate you with the latest from the "anti-Christmas" side:

In addition to the highly publicized athiest sign in the State of Washinghton,
the following nonsense has occurred in this month alone:

1) Premier Jean Charest of Canada released a news release announcing the lighting of a Christmas tree. Ten minutes later she released a modification to the press release changing the word Christmas to holiday.

2) Nancy Pelosi told Reverend Schenck that she was "mugged" because she wanted to light the Christmas tree.

3) A mother complained about the singing of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer because it contained the words "Christmas" and "Santa" at a kindergarten concert. At first the school was going to pull the song, but after
talking to lawyers they detemined the song could be sung.

4) UNC Chapel Hill's libraries have had Christmas displays for decades, but have now banned them because of complaints.

5) In the UK, a Christmas performance at a school was postponed until January 28th of next year because it coincides with a Muslim holiday.

>>At least, Starbucks offers both Christmas and Holiday versions of the same coffee. Unsure why this is so hard, that would be my approach...<<

Yes, but like I said, in the case of Netflix, Blockbuster, and Starbucks only Starbucks has found a balance.

But you are right, I don't understand why it is so difficult to find a balance.

In the ongoing debate over proper greetings (for example) I would say the ideal would be for the recipient of a greeting to reciprocate the greeting and add an additional greeting relevant to their own beliefs. At this, the greeting originator should then reciprocate the additional greeting back.

For example:

Person 1: Merry Christmas
Person 2: Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah to you.
Person 1: And a Happy Hanukkah to you.

Person 1: Happy Holidays
Person 2: Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to you.
Person 1: And a Merry Christmas to you.

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"So for balance, I will inundate you with the latest from the "anti-Christmas" side:"

Yes thanks, didn't really include a lot of detail on the 'anti-Christmas' side. Have not followed much of any of these this year but knew of a lot of such things in Christmas seasons past. I'm not very PC myself, Christmas trees will always be Christmas trees I'm afraid.

I did not at all wish to imply I am in sympathy with the "anti-Christmas" or overly PC group, what concerns me is what the reaction to them includes from the Christian group. For example, parents recieve requests from groups for money to fight the Christmas war, I suggested they buy a Nativity set with the money instead.

If these are taken down from public places, make a peaceful gesture by putting up your own. IMO peaceful gestures will 'bring back Christmas' when hostility will widen the gap.

My area is small town/country and has any number of fundamentailist churches, but have seen a total of 2 'private' Nativity sets in the area. To fight back in a hostile way however misses the entire point IMO, but maybe its just me.

Either way didn't intend to OT the thread with my irresponsible, 'no-explanation' use of the term, and do appologize about my lack of clarity,....which is probably continuing, and etc.

"Person 2: Merry Christmas and a Happy Hanukkah to you."

Yes, have run into this exact thing (as well as the others) this on several occasions and we had a great time with it....

Should you have nothing to do (for a long while) my sig is a seemingly never ending Christmas 'program' and includes info on nearby Bethlehem.... (Pennsylvania)

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

I live in NYC and I can appreciate the generic quality of "Happy Holidays" here because so many of us are Jewish and don't look particularly different from the rest of the Caucasian population (this excepts the Orthodox and Hasidic who provide clues by their appearance). And of course, "holidays" includes New Year's Day, so "Happy Holidays" works for the non-Judeo-Christian population (e.g. Moslems of all colors, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc.) since people seem to have lost interest in the fact that it's also a Christian holiday. However, I suspect that this state of affairs doesn't apply to much of the country, in which case "Merry Christmas" works just fine. So what's the problem with these people? It's really obnoxious and puts me in mind of Newspeak. Christmas is a nice time of year, it's a religious holiday, and this is a de facto Christian country, even without a State religion (which is by no means a bad thing). I just don't understand why this is a BFD--why try to eradicate the religious element of a joyful holiday that makes so many happy? Talk about Scrooges! At least he kept his nastiness to himself instead of attempting to legislate it.

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"And of course, "holidays" includes New Year's Day, so "Happy Holidays" works for the non-Judeo-Christian population (e.g. Moslems of all colors, Sikhs, Buddhists, etc.)"

True....I did have good friends at work who were Wiccans (very, very nice people) and as I knew this I would be more specific, and wished them a "Happy Winter Solstice". We had a good time with that too. I did once did ask him what he had gotten for his wife for "Summer Solstice" (which is much harder to remember). As the solstice was that day, he turned pale, grabbed the phone, made dinner reservations, then called his wife "Oh honey, I'll bet you were wondering....." I was rolling. I suspect Wiccan 'wanna-bes' spoil the reputation of Wiccans, knew a few of those as well....

With Hispanic friends I try out "Happy Day of the Three Kings" but have found that this is not always a culturally specific observation, however has always led to amiable discussions and mutual cultural exploration....

It's really obnoxious and puts me in mind of Newspeak.

I do wonder what the children of the parents who complained about "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" were thinking, or the other children in the kindergarten in general. I complained about Frosty The Snowman myself, though. He smoked in public, and coal I'm told can lead to Global Warming....

"I just don't understand why this is a BFD--why try to eradicate the religious element of a joyful holiday that makes so many happy?"

Unsure about NY, but have lived in states where a ban on smoking was introduced as possible legislation. I noted some of the people who cared about smoking the least were the ones who jumped on the band wagon first. Although this comment may seem unrelated, (and not to comment on the issue itself) I believe there might be a lot of "human nature' in all this. On any number of popular movie boards there is always a "Worse Movie Ever Made!!!!" comment....etc.

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] FilmBuff65 16 years ago

>>my sig is a seemingly never ending Christmas 'program' and includes info on nearby Bethlehem.... (Pennsylvania)<<

Yes, I checked it out and by the way I live near Harrisburg (Pennsylvania).

God loves filthy rags.

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

I must admit the music gets better as you 'go along'. Unsure if you have them in your area but there are at least 2 Moravian Churches close by and of course Moravian College. People outside the area have never heard of them, and on boards have advertized 'The Moravian Star' as a decoration not everyone might have. I beleive in reply other areas are familiar with the Star.

If you have been to Bethlehem over Christmas and are familiar with the star on Bethlehem's South Mountain, I used to think when I was a kid that it was the real star....which reminds me of this movie. I introduced a satire type question on a local forum about what new knickname 'The Christmas City" would have if things got even more PC.

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] Enrique-8 11 years ago

THE BEST way to come across this film is by accident, as I did. I did not expect it, after I had watched another movie.

It started for me as a goofy movie about cowboys with gifts. I watched it becaue of great Radio Star, J. Carroll Naish.

But then slowly it crept up on me. I got more interested and well, by the end of the movie, I was a blubbering fool.

I just recorded it off of TCM and it now will become a tradition to watch this harmlessly beautiful movie. It was a smart move to make it just this short. Any more wouldn't have been good. It's just perfect the way it is!

Enrique Sanchez

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

As above, was also surprised by the ethnicity of the cast, not to mention this might have been viewed as being in very poor taste or whatever in 1945....doing a modern version of a Biblical story, esp this Bible story (????)

First, why is the ethnicity surprising? For one thing, it allows for the use of the Spanish equivalents of "Mary" and "Joseph" (not to mention "Santos").
As for poor taste, I believe that viewers were less sensitive to this sort of thing back then. Also, bear in mind that this wasn't a LITERAL retelling of the Nativity--it was a then-contemporary tale that took place on what viewers knew to be Christmas Eve, and there was no claim or even hint that José and Maria's baby was divine or Messianic. It was just a "no room at the inn" parallel which caused preoccupied people's hearts to melt. I seriously doubt that anyone had a problem with it, including its producer and writer, both of whom were probably Jewish.

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[–] xylonian-1 16 years ago

"First, why is the ethnicity surprising?"

Well for anyone who has seen "White Cargo" for example, Hollywood in the past didn't always use ethnic actors to portray ethnic characters. I am hoping this Oscar winning film helped bridge the gap perhaps....

"As for poor taste, I believe that viewers were less sensitive to this sort of thing back then."

Agree, and agree also with the "no room at the inn" senario....IMO this film might act as a question for the audience "What would you do if Mary and Joseph showed up at your door????" :)

Vesele Vianoce!!!! http://www.iarelative.com/czech/xmas/index.html

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[–] macguffinlassie 16 years ago

"First, why is the ethnicity surprising?"

Well for anyone who has seen "White Cargo" for example, Hollywood in the past didn't always use ethnic actors to portray ethnic characters. I am hoping this Oscar winning film helped bridge the gap perhaps....

That's true (for that matter, Naish certainly wasn't Italian). But bear in mind that they probably didn't have much choice. Whether by design or not, there wasn't much of a "gene pool" in Hollywood. I actually don't think this is necessarily a bad thing because casting non-ethnics (if you will) gives actors the opportunity to display their chops. Things are different now. I have no use for most of the movies being made, but things are different.

IMO this film might act as a question for the audience "What would you do if Mary and Joseph showed up at your door????" :)

EXCELLENT observation, and one that I have no doubt was the creators' intention.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] J. Spurlin 16 years ago

Did you just see it for the first time?

I'm a sucker for "angels," too I think.

This short film would make a good double bill with It's a Wonderful Life.

...Justin

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[–] Niki_Catalina 15 years ago

No extreme analysis here; I liked it!

Merry Christmas!

"When people run in circles its a very very - Mad World"

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[–] J. Spurlin 15 years ago

Where did you see it? Turner Classic Movies? DVD?

...Justin Glory be, Delbert, you should eat! You're a count, for God's sake!

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[–] Niki_Catalina 15 years ago

I had never seen it before until a few night ago and saw it on TCM. Then I realized that it was on the "Christmas In Connecticut" DVD. The TCM version is actually a cleaner print than the DVD but regardless the story is a Christmas delight; had me in tears at the end!

"When people run in circles its a very very - Mad World"

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[–] J. Spurlin 15 years ago

TCM must be showing it every year, judging from this thread. I only saw it once on the DVD for Christmas in Connecticut—which for some reason I watched during the summer.

...Justin Glory be, Delbert, you should eat! You're a count, for God's sake!

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[–] KlutzyGirl 14 years ago

Too bad this thread got hijacked.

I usually hate religiously-themed films, but I enjoyed this very much. Good acting, writing, and directing, and the right length at 25 minutes. Not heavy handed at all, just a nice reminder about what the spirit of Christmas and teachings of Jesus are really about.

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[–] smrhyne-1 14 years ago

I loved it!

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[–] BKinzeys 13 years ago

I agree with the OP. I thought it was hokey with and extra serving of cheese. I did like J. Carrol Naish but he was just a little too much.

Most interesting thing about it was not only did they not say she was pregnant they couldn't even say she was having a baby until she had it.

The last shot was laughable. Of course there has to be a donkey!

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[–] jonkennedy 13 years ago

This was on TCM right after "The Southerner" recently and I watched it on my DVR. After "The Southerner" ended, I went to delete it, but noted that there was over half an hour left on the recording. I assumed there would be a short or trailers, maybe a star profile - something like that. Much to my surprise, especially it being February, this gem, previously unknown to me, came on.

The beginning shot with the three cowboys riding through the desert on horses carrying Christmas presents seeing the diner's star was a bit corny and a giveaway to the whole plot. I almost hit pause/delete but I kept it going and I'm very glad I did. I surprised myself by getting a bit choked up near the end, too - something, as a guy, I rarely experience with a film outside of something like "Saving Private Ryan".

So, the answer to your question J. Spurlin is yes, I liked it....very much.

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[–] dodgercodger 12 years ago

Watching it right now as part of TCM's Oscar run (Best Short). I've seen it before and each time it's a real (2-reel?) treat.

"It's Time for DODGER Baseball!"

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[–] jaysea2 12 years ago

Ditto....

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