Star in the Night
Synopsis
Nick, a motel owner who has lost faith in more than just the humanity of mankind, is visited by a kindly stranger on Christmas Eve. The motel's guests are only concerned for themselves until a poor man and his wife drive up to the motel, unable to go any further. Out of rooms, Nick's wife prepares a place for them in a shed under a neon star Nick had just finished hanging. Their plight brings out the generosity in everyone, including Nick, who remembers another family almost two thousand years earlier that also found a makeshift room at an inn under another kind of star.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
J. Carrol Naish
Nick Catapoli
Donald Woods
Hitchhiker
Rosina Galli
Rosa Catapoli
Richard Erdman
Middle Cowboy
Lynn Baggett
Maria Santos
John Miles
Left Cowboy
Anthony Caruso
Jose Santos
Irving Bacon
Mr. Dilson (uncredited)
Claire Du Brey
Traveler's Wife (uncredited)
Dick Elliott
Traveler (uncredited)
Virginia Sale
Miss Roberts (uncredited)
Cactus Mack
Right Cowboy (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 13, 1945
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Don Siegel
- Screenplay & Story
- Saul Elkins, Don Siegel
- Original Score
- William Lava
- Original Title
- Star in the Night
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 22m
- Production Studios
- The Vitaphone Corporation, Warner Bros. Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Don Siegel
Saul Elkins, Don Siegel
William Lava
Robert Burks
Rex Steele
Gordon Hollingshead
Department Leadership Roster
Don Siegel
Director
Gordon Hollingshead
Producer
Rex Steele
Editor
Saul Elkins
Screenplay
Robert Burks
Director of Photography
Don Siegel
Screenplay
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Star in the Night.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Star in the Night.
Periodic import List
Christmas Movies
Christmas films from Wikipedia's list, excluding films merely set at Christmas.
Christmas Movies
Christmas films from Wikipedia's list and Wikidata genre tagging.
Academy Awards - Best Live Action Short Film Winners 1932-2025
Academy Awards winners archive (Best Live Action Short Film Winners 1932-2025)
Christmas
Christmas
Academy Awards: Winners
Similar Titles to Star in the Night
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.3
6.5
6.0
7.4
5.4
4.5
2.0
7.1
5.8
5.8
6.2
5.3
5.2
7.3
5.9
6.2
3.7
More Like Star in the Night
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Star in the Night
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Star in the Night about?
Nick, a motel owner who has lost faith in more than just the humanity of mankind, is visited by a kindly stranger on Christmas Eve. The motel's guests are only concerned for themselves until a poor man and his wife drive up to the motel, unable to go any further. Out of rooms, Nick's wife prepares a place for them in a shed under a neon star Nick had just finished hanging. Their plight brings out the generosity in everyone, including Nick, who remembers another family almost two thousand years earlier that also found a makeshift room at an inn under another kind of star.
Who directed Star in the Night?
Star in the Night was directed by Don Siegel.
Who stars in Star in the Night?
The principal cast of Star in the Night includes J. Carrol Naish, Donald Woods, Rosina Galli, Richard Erdman, Lynn Baggett.
When was Star in the Night released and how long is it?
Star in the Night was released in 1945 with a total runtime of 22m.
Who composed the musical score for Star in the Night?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Star in the Night was composed by William Lava.