On Moonlight Bay 1951

     This film is based on Life with Father of 1947, Meet Me in St. Louis of 1944 and Booth Tarkington’s Penrod stories.  The Winfield family moves into a new house in the small town of Milburn (this is a fictional name) in Indiana of 1917 prior to WWI. Their daughter Marjorie is a tomboy but she begins a romance with William Sherman from across the street.  Marjorie is now interested in learning how to dance and act like a young lady instead of a tomboy.  Unfortunately, William has unconventional ideas.  He doesn’t believe in marriage or money.  Marjorie’s father George Winfield is the local bank vice president and he really believes in money?  He’s married to Alice, Marjorie’s mother so he believes in marriage too?  Ideas about marriage and money cause some friction between George and William!!

     Many times I don’t like musicals and especially if there is also dancing.  I did like this movie?  It must be because the story is good and the characters are believable.  Also, because this was a more gentle time with parents involved with their children, their community and neighbors.  Crime was down, children played outside with their friends and doors didn’t need to be locked.  Mary Wilks plays the housekeeper Stella.  She has a tough time bringing food into the dining room because of two doors.  Someone is always opening the door and causing the tray of dishes and food to fall all over the floor!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

95 min, Musical directed by Roy Del Ruth with Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Jack Smith, Leon Ames, Rosemary DeCamp Mary Wickes, Ellen Corby, Billy Gray, Henry East, Jeffrey Stevens, Eddie Marr.

Note:  Imdb 7.1 out of 10, 100% critic 81% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 161 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 2.5 out of 4* average user rating 3.75* out of 5*, Letterboxd 3.3* of 5*.

Special Note:  This film was so popular that the studio immediately filmed By the Light of the Silvery Moon of 1953.  This is a sequel with all the actors playing the same characters and that was unusual at this time.  Doris Day has said that By the Light of the Silvery Moon and Calamity Jane are her personal favorites of her films.  In this film plus the two others, Doris Day plays a tomboyish character blossoming into a pretty young lady.  Carol Burnett recalled working at the theater on Hollywood Boulevard where this film was playing its premiere engagement in 1951.  She earned 75 cents an hour answering the phone in a sing-son voice and stating: “Pantages Theater – Doris Day and Gordon MacRae On Moonlight Bay!”  There is a mistake with the song Ain’t We Got Fun because it wasn’t written until 1920.  Billy Gray as Wesley played Bud Anderson in the TV series Father Knows Best from 1954-1960.