Moonrise (1948)

Moonrise is an American romantic film drama first released in 1948, directed by Frank Borzage.  The film stars Dane Clark, Gail Russell, Ethel Barrymore, Allyn Joslyn and Rex Ingram.  Our overall rating for this film is: good.


In a small town in Virginia, a man is sent to the gallows for murder and his son, Danny, is thereafter endlessly tormented by his classmates.  As a young man, Danny is still taunted by Jerry, his rival for the girl he has fallen in love with, Gilly.  At a dance one evening, Jerry provokes Danny and in the ensuing brawl Danny kills Jerry.  Afterwards, Danny discovers that Gilly loves him and is ready to start a life with him, but this is small consolation.  He has killed a man and, like his father, he must pay the price...

Whilst it has some touches of brilliance, Moonrise is overall something of a disappointment.  An unsatisfying mix of film noir crime drama and romantic melodrama, it falls somewhat short of the level of excellence seen in much of Frank Borzage’s other work.  The fault lies not in Borzage’s direction nor in the performances which are (on the whole) admirable, but in the creaking screenplay which lacks focus and conviction.  

The film is perhaps best remembered for its haunting opening sequence in which a man is led to the gallows, shot in silhouette in the manner of an early silent expressionist film.  Equally impressive is the effective point-of-view shot where Danny falls to the ground from a Ferris wheel.   Such flourishes of artistic inspiration and originality are laudable but their impact is sadly diminished by the film’s failings – the plodding plot, lacklustre characterisation and an ending that is too sentimental for its own good.

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