On Moonlight Bay (1951) :
Brief Review -
An underrated gem! Roy Del Ruth's most vibrant and happy-go-lucky flick post "It Happened On Fifth Avenue" (1947). Roy Del Ruth's filmography has variety, but none of them are legendary classics. From whatever I have seen, It Happened On Fifth Avenue is his best work ever, which actually took inspiration from Frank Capra's Oscar-winning classic, "You Can't Take It With You" (1938). Musicals were getting more colourful and vibrant in the 50s when Hollywood was more interested in expanding the genre with musical legends like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and female superstars. On Moonlight Bay did not have a big superstar from the musical field, nor did it have a big budget (please correct me if I am wrong since Doris Day emerged as a superstar later), yet it delivered a delightful experience. The writing brings feel-good vibes, and the screenplay puts a smile on your face. The musical numbers aren't that great, but they do not give any pain to your eyes and ears. It's a mix of family drama, comedy, and romance, and all three elements are well placed. In the first scene, we see a family moving into a new town, and except for the head of the family, everyone else is complaining about the place. Cut to the next scene, the boy gets friendly with a neighbour, the girl finds new boys and a lover, and we kick off an enchanting journey. The script keeps nostalgic moments alive, while comedy never goes down. There are so many scenes that I relate to my childhood, and many young girls, boys, and even parents would relate to them. On Moonlight Bay is so much more like our own film than a fictional story. Doris Day and Gordon MacRae's cute chemistry, Rosemary DeCamp and Leon Ames are perfect parents, while Billy Gray was the mirror image of my naughty childhood. This underrated gem by Roy Del Ruth has remained away from the spotlight undeservingly. Let's try to make it popular.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
An underrated gem! Roy Del Ruth's most vibrant and happy-go-lucky flick post "It Happened On Fifth Avenue" (1947). Roy Del Ruth's filmography has variety, but none of them are legendary classics. From whatever I have seen, It Happened On Fifth Avenue is his best work ever, which actually took inspiration from Frank Capra's Oscar-winning classic, "You Can't Take It With You" (1938). Musicals were getting more colourful and vibrant in the 50s when Hollywood was more interested in expanding the genre with musical legends like Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and female superstars. On Moonlight Bay did not have a big superstar from the musical field, nor did it have a big budget (please correct me if I am wrong since Doris Day emerged as a superstar later), yet it delivered a delightful experience. The writing brings feel-good vibes, and the screenplay puts a smile on your face. The musical numbers aren't that great, but they do not give any pain to your eyes and ears. It's a mix of family drama, comedy, and romance, and all three elements are well placed. In the first scene, we see a family moving into a new town, and except for the head of the family, everyone else is complaining about the place. Cut to the next scene, the boy gets friendly with a neighbour, the girl finds new boys and a lover, and we kick off an enchanting journey. The script keeps nostalgic moments alive, while comedy never goes down. There are so many scenes that I relate to my childhood, and many young girls, boys, and even parents would relate to them. On Moonlight Bay is so much more like our own film than a fictional story. Doris Day and Gordon MacRae's cute chemistry, Rosemary DeCamp and Leon Ames are perfect parents, while Billy Gray was the mirror image of my naughty childhood. This underrated gem by Roy Del Ruth has remained away from the spotlight undeservingly. Let's try to make it popular.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.