Star In The Night (1945)

 

Star In The Night - 1945

Coming up next is 1945's "Star In The Night", a short-film that sees a "modern day" telling of the Nativity story set in the deserts of the American west.

The film's cast includes J. Carrol Naish, Donald Woods, Rosina Galli, Lynn Baggett, Anthony Caruso, Irving Bacon, Claire Du Brey, Dick Elliott, and Virginia Sale.

In the American West, three cowboys are riding through the desert heavily laden with gifts they've just purchased.  Not really knowing why they purchased them in the first place, they set off into the night.

They see a flash of light coming from a huge star in the distance.  Curious about its origin, they decide to ride towards it.

The star is actually a light advertising the Star Auto Court, a place where weary travelers can come and rest, rent a cabin, and have some hot food before continuing their journeys.

The proprietor, Nick, is tired of selfish people always out for themselves.  This has made him indifferent to Christmastime and the joys of the season.  He tells a hitchhiker as much when the man comes and asks for a cup of coffee to warm him up.

A flurry of demanding, rude, and grumpy guests serves to illustrate Nick's point.  He thinks that there is no true goodness left in people, and if they are nice, it's only because they want something for themselves.

A young couple arrives at the auto court.  Jose and Maria Santos need a place to stay badly.  She is going to have a baby soon.  However, having just rented the last cabin, Nick has nowhere to put them, and there is no other place for many miles around.

Nick's wife Rosa strikes upon an idea.  There is one place left.  It's not much, just a shed that looks like a little barn.  It's not a cabin, but it will be soft and warm.  Jose and Maria are very grateful.

When the circumstances are explained to the other auto court guests, they decide to all pitch in and help.  They give of their own possessions and comforts so that the young couple can have their baby.  Seeing the goodness in the guests, Nick is truly moved.

The cowboys eventually make it to the shining star.  They find out that a baby is going to be born and decide to give all the things they've bought to the newborn.

Eventually, the baby, a little boy, is born.  Everyone congratulates Jose and then rushes out to see the little one.

Staying behind to clean up, Nick is drawn to the calendar and sees an illustration of the first Christmas, which makes a deep impression on him.

As everyone gathers around the new baby, Nick looks out the window and reflects on the message of peace, love, and brotherhood that Christmas brings.

Cast rundown:

   J. Carrol Naish................................Nick Catapoli

   Donald Woods.................................Hitchhiker

   Rosina Galli....................................Rosa Catapoli

   Lynn Baggett..................................Maria Santos

   Anthony Caruso..............................Jose Santos

   Irving Bacon...................................Mr. Dilson

   Claire Du Brey................................Traveler's Wife

   Dick Elliott.....................................Traveler

   Virginia Sale...................................Miss Roberts

And that's it for Star In The Night.  This film won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject.  I think it's very beautifully done and should be a part of everyone's Christmas film-viewing tradition.

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Holiday Inn (1942)

 

Holiday Inn - 1942

Coming up next is 1942's "Holiday Inn", a story about an inn that is only open on holidays.  Also, a dancer and a singer are in competition for the affections of the inn's showstopper.

The film's cast includes Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Marjorie Reynolds, Virginia Dale, Walter Abel, Louise Beavers, and Irving Bacon.

In New York City, Jim Hardy and Ted Hanover have a very popular music act.  They are ably assisted by Miss Lila Dixon.

On the final night of their act, Ted and Lila declare their love, which leaves Jim out in the cold.  He decides to retire to a farm in Connecticut.

Farming isn't all Jim hopes it to be.  After a year, he's pretty sick and tired of it.

So, he decides to turn the farm into an entertainment venue.  The idea is that it will only be open on holidays, thereby becoming the aptly named "Holiday Inn".

By the Christmas season, Jim is back in New York visiting Ted and Lila at their nightclub.  He meets Miss Linda Mason.  The two hit it off, and he agrees to give her a chance to sing at the Holiday Inn.

While Jim has been farming, Ted and Lila have been doing very well in the nightclub business.  They are quite the successful pair.

At the Inn, Jim and Linda work on a number destined to be a hit.  The two sound very good together as they sing "White Christmas".

By New Year's Eve, the Holiday Inn is ready to open.  It proves to be a huge success.

The next holiday is Abraham Lincoln's birthday.  A minstrel number entitled "Abraham" is performed for the patrons of the inn.

Valentine's Day is next, and Jim gives Linda a special card of his own design.

Jim's got to stay on his toes.  Ted arrives, minus Lila, and proceeds to dance the night away with Linda.

On George Washington's birthday, Jim watches while Ted and Linda continue to dance together and dazzle the audience.

But by Easter, Jim and Linda are decidedly together as a couple.  They drive through the picturesque town with a horse and buggy.

The Fourth of July finds a huge celebration amidst a great deal of patriotic fervor.  We also find out that Hollywood has come calling.  Producers want to make a film about the Holiday Inn.  There's an argument between Jim and Linda, and she decides to leave for Hollywood to make the film.

After a lonely Thanksgiving, Jim heads to California and surprises Linda on set.  He joins her in a chorus of "White Christmas".  She rushes into his arms and any misunderstandings between them vanish into thin air.

And on New Year's Eve, we find that Jim and Linda have returned to the inn.  And Ted, who thought he was going to be dancing through life alone, is delightfully surprised at the reappearance of Lila.

Cast rundown:

   Bing Crosby.....................................Jim Hardy

   Fred Astaire.....................................Ted Hanover

   Marjorie Reynolds.............................Linda Mason

   Virginia Dale....................................Lila Dixon

   Walter Abel......................................Danny Reed

   Louise Beavers.................................Mamie

   Irving Bacon....................................Gus

And that's it for Holiday Inn.  It was in this film that the song "White Christmas" was first introduced to audiences.  It would later be included in another holiday movie, 1954's "White Christmas".  Holiday Inn has proved enduringly popular.  In 2018, British Prime Minister Theresa May declared that it was her favorite Christmas movie.

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