Lesser Known Christmas Movies From the 1940s
Holiday Films That Are Still Enjoyable Today
The 1940s produced several classic Christmas movies such as Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishop’s Wife, Miracle on 34th Street, and, of course, It’s a Wonderful Life. Others are not as well known today, but, on some levels, are as well done as those mentioned. Included in this group are Remember the Night, I’ll Be Seeing You, and Star in the Night.
Remember the Night (1940)
- Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Beulah Bondi, Sterling Holloway, Georgia Caine
Shortly before the Yuletide season, hard-nosed Lee Leander (Stanwyck) is caught for the third time shoplifting. Assistant District Attorney John Sargeant (MacMurray) is assigned to prosecute her, but has the trial postponed until after the holidays, knowing that juries have a tendency to be lenient at that time of year. However, he does generously post her bail.
When John discovers that Lee, like him, is from Indiana, he offers to drive her there so she can visit her mother and then his own family, whom he is going to see. During the course of the trip, Lee mellows and the two fall in love. This leaves the D.A. in a quandary. When they return to New York, how can he possibly prosecute a woman that he now loves?
This comedy-drama, despite its implausible plot, succeeds due to an honest script by Preston Sturges, good direction, and fine performances. This was the first of four movies that Stanwyck, an unappreciated actress, and MacMurray would make together and in all of them the pair show great chemistry. The supporting cast is also good, particularly Georgia Caine as Lee’s cold, embittered mother.
I’ll Be Seeing You (1944)
- Cast: Joseph Cotten, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Temple, Spring Byington, Tom Tully
Zachary Morgan (Cotten) and Mary Marshall (Rogers) meet while seated across from each other on a train. Zach is a decorated war hero, recently treated for shell shock, who has been given a furlough for Christmas. Mary claims that she is a saleswoman on her way to Pine Hill to visit her aunt and uncle and cousin. Morgan claims that he has a sister in the same town and is also stopping there.
Neither is telling the truth. Zach is an orphan with no sister. Fearing that he will never be emotionally normal again, he only wants to enjoy time with a regular family. She, in turn, is not a saleswoman, but is on a 10-day furlough from prison where she is serving a term for manslaughter. During the holiday week with her family, the two face battles within themselves as to how much of the truth should be told.
I’ll Be Seeing You is saved from being a syrupy melodrama by fine performances from Rogers, whose acting skills encompassed more than singing and dancing, and by the always dependable Cotten. Byington, Tully, and Temple (in her first adult role) lend strong support as the aunt, uncle, and cousin.
Star in the Night (1945)
- Cast: J. Carroll Naish (Nick), Donald Woods (The Hitchhiker), Anthony Caruso (Jose), Lynn Baggett (Maria)
This updating of the Christmas story, with added touches of A Christmas Carol, is set in the Southwestern United States on Christmas Eve. A trio of cowboys on horseback, after some last minute shopping at a general store, are attracted to a flickering light in the nearby sky.
The source of the light is actually a malfunctioning neon star at the Star Auto Court and Diner. The court’s owner, Nick (J. Carroll Naish), is not only unhappy with his new but faulty sign, but also complains to his patient wife that there are no good people left in the world and, as evidence, points to his present customers in the diner and motel who are doing their own share of bickering and complaining.
Then a mysterious, almost mystical, hitchhiker (Donald Woods) arrives on the scene, followed shortly by a young Mexican man, his pregnant wife (Caruso, Baggett), and the three cowboys. When the young woman gives birth in an outbuilding, the people in the diner find their attitudes transformed.
This 22 minute tale, a simple and beautiful reaffirmation of the Christmas message, was the first directing effort by Clint Eastwood’s favorite director and mentor, Don Siegel. It won the 1946 Academy Award for Best Short Subject.
Christmas DVDS
Remember the Night is available on DVD and is shown frequently on Turner Classic Movies. A DVD version of I’ll Be Seeing You is also available, but only through TCM.
For several years, Star in the Night was hard to find as it was only seen as a filler on TCM between features during the holiday season. However, a 2008 DVD of Christmas in Connecticut includes this short feature.
Movie Poster from Remember the Night
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Movie Poster from I'll Be Seeing You
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