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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Next Frank Borzage film: Lazybones (1925)
Film Synopsis
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...
Cast: Dane Clark (Danny Hawkins),
Gail Russell (Gilly Johnson),
Ethel Barrymore (Grandma),
Allyn Joslyn (Sheriff Clem Otis),
Rex Ingram (Mose),
Harry Morgan (Billy Scripture),
David Street (Ken Williams),
Selena Royle (Aunt Jessie),
Harry Carey Jr. (Jimmy Biff),
Irving Bacon (Judd Jenkins),
Lloyd Bridges (Jerry Sykes),
Houseley Stevenson (Uncle Joe Jingle),
Phil Brown (Elmer - Soda Jerk),
Harry Cheshire (J.B. Sykes),
Lila Leeds (Julie),
Virginia Mullen (Miss Simpkins),
Oliver Blake (Ed Conlon),
Tom Fadden (Homer Blackstone),
Charles Lane (Mr. Chandler),
Clem Bevans (Jake - Coroner)
Country: USA
Language: English
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 90 min
Aka:Frank Borzage's Moonrise
French cinema during the Nazi Occupation
Even in the dark days of the Occupation, French cinema continued to impress with its artistry and diversity.
The cinema of Japan is noteworthy for its purity, subtlety and visual impact. The films of Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa are sublime masterpieces of film poetry.
In the 1920s French cinema was at its most varied and stylish - witness the achievements of Abel Gance, Marcel L'Herbier, Jean Epstein and Jacques Feyder.
From Jean Renoir to François Truffaut, French cinema has no shortage of truly great filmmakers, each bringing a unique approach to the art of filmmaking.