Search - By the Light of the Silvery Moon on DVD

NOSTALGIC "MOON" SHINES A MELODIC LIGHT

Paul Brogan | Portsmouth, NH United States | 12/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the annual Quigley Poll of the top ten box-office attractions in America conducted at the end of 1952, Doris Day was determined to be the top money-making female star in films. "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", released in 1953, was her first film release after achieving that honor. "Moon" was a deserved success and certainly worthy of Day's position within the industry at that time.
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is the tuneful follow-up to the very popular 1951 hit for Warner Brothers, "On Moonlight Bay". Like its predecessor, it recalls another time and place in America, directly after World War I, bathing it in a nostalgic warmth and glow in stunning technicolor and reassembling most of the cast from the earlier film.
The characters and story are very loosely based on the "Penrod" series of stories written by Booth Tarkington.
Marjorie and Bill, the sweethearts of the piece, are played by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, in their 5th and final on-screen pairing. They harmonize beautifully and play their scenes with genuine and totally unaffected warmth and believability. Watching Day, it's easy to see why see held the lofty position within the industry that she held for so long. Her natural likeability and never cloying manner are soothing and when she sings, as she does frequently, one is transported to a safe and comfortable haven.
The songs include the title tune, "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" and "Ain't We Got Fun" to name but a few.
The remaining members of Marjorie's family are back from the earlier effort and seem to be more a family than ever before. Leon Ames is part bluster/part patriarch, while Rosemary DeCamp, as usual, is better than much of the material Hollywood generally gave her to work with. Billy Gray is appropriately rowdy but skillfully avoiding the obnoxious elements as Wesley and Mary Wickes, as she is prone to do, shines in every scene she plays, a natural treasure as one of the most unique character actresses in film history.
If you look quickly in the beautifully staged skating sequence near the film's conclusion, you'll spot Merv Griffin talking through a megaphone and urging everyone to skate with their sweetheart. Doris Day was responsible for getting Griffin a contract at Warners, which launched his career. In 1970, she made her first ever talk show appearance on his program.
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is as substantial as a Hallmark Card brought to life but thanks to a fine cast headed by Day, who smoothly mixes the various facets of her character, some great tunes, a lightweight plot that never gets in the way of the music and some fine Warner Brothers production values, it works.
By the final credits you care so much about these characters that you almost wish Warner Brothers had done one more chapter to the story. The light in this moon certainly becomes everyone involved."

I am in love with Doris Day so my view doesn't count

Paul Brogan | 05/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this movie, almost as much as Calamity Jane. If you like good moral values and humor, like it used to be. Then this is the movie for you. It's how life should be. You can have fun dreaming! Doris' voice is so beautiful it will tear your heart out. But like I said I am bias. So you have probally wasted your time reading this. Sorry!!!"

Romantic, Melodic, & Fun

Veronica L. Rivera | Glendale, CA United States | 11/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though I loved the first movie "On Moonlight Bay," I have to admit that I loved this sequel even more. Gordon MacRae looks awfully handsome and his gorgeous voice just makes you fall in love with him. Doris Day looks even prettier than in the first movie with her blond hair all done up. There's so much chemistry between MacRae and Day that their romance bursts with believability.
The musical numbers are adorable and fun, you literally feel like you've stepped right into their world and become part of the Winfield clan. Like the first movie, though, once you get to the end, you'll be sorry it's over! Highly recommended!"

Doris Day and Gordon MacRae return for MOONLIGHT BAY sequel

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 03/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following the huge box office success of ON MOONLIGHT BAY, plans were immediately made for a sequel, reuniting all the key cast members and using the continuing 'Penrod' stories as the plotline.



Marjorie (Doris Day) is eagerly awaiting the return of Bill Sherman (Gordon MacRae) following the end of WWI, though their romance seems to have cooled. Bill now partially regrets proposing so hurridly and now wants to wait until his financial situation is more stable.



All kinds of funny subplots occur throughout the film, the highlight being Wesley (Billy Gray) thinking his father (Leon Ames) is having an affair with a visiting French movie star (Maria Palmer)! Also on hand are Rosemary DeCamp as the patient mother, and Mary Wickes as wisecracking housekeeper Stella.



Doris Day and Gordon MacRae sing the Title Song and "Ain't We Got Fun?", whilst Day has a ball with the rousing "King Chanticleer".



A just about-perfect sequel.



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