Uncredited ( in order of appearance ) The short film '' Star in the Night '' deals with a modern retelling of the Nativity story and also adds some elements from '' A Christmas Carol '' to it . Saul Elkins wrote the screenplay ; the story was by Robert Finch . Produced with a rather small budget and character actors , it was the directorial debut of Don Siegel , who later directed thriller feature films like '' Dirty Harry '' . Previously Siegel had worked as a Warner Bros. montage and second unit director . The cinematography was by a young Robert Burks who later worked for Alfred Hitchcock . In 1946 , '' Star in the Night '' won an Academy Award for Best Short Subject ( Two-Reel ) at the 18th Academy Awards . The Academy Award for Best Short Documentary Film was won by '' Hitler Lives '' , also directed by Don Siegel . After his success with both shorts he went on to make feature films
18th Academy Awards
18th Academy Awards
Star in the Night