Tea for Two (1950) established
Doris Day as Warner Brothers' most valuable asset and the studio wasted
no time reuniting her with her co-star in that film, Gordon MacRae, for
another light-hearted musical comedy in the same vein. Needless
to say, On Moonlight Bay was
a sure fire hit. The film's success was in part down to its cosy
depiction of the kind of Utopian family life that most Americans liked to
believe existed, even though it was manifestly a sugar-coated fantasy that is no
more real than Dorothy's adventures in the land of Oz.
Based on the popular Penrod stories by Booth Tarkington, the film
consists of a series of amusing vignettes which alternate between
Marjorie Winfield's thwarted attempts to get married and her brother
Wesley's marginally more successful attempts to be a pain in the nether
regions. Whilst some may consider this film, and its sequel By the Light
of the Silvery Moon (1953), to be saccharine and lightweight, it
does have a great deal of charm, mainly on account of its uplifting
musical numbers which evoke the ragtime period. As ever, Doris Day
and Gordon MacRae make a winning combination, whilst the very capable
supporting cast (which includes the magnificent Ellen Corby of Grandma
Walton fame) provides plenty of comic relief.
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Film Synopsis
Within hours of the Winfield family moving into their new house in a
small Indiana town, the daughter, Marjorie, has struck up a romance
with the boy across the road, Bill Sherman. No one could be
happier at this development than the father, George Winfield, who has
been wondering if he will ever be rid of his tomboy daughter.
Unfortunately, Bill regards marriage as an out-dated institution and
loathes the entire capitalist system, especially bankers, which is
unfortunate as Mr Winfield is vice president of the First National
Bank. As Bill goes off to college, Marjorie is left pining, and
finds little solace in her new beau, a dull musician named Hubert
Wakely. When her one true love graduates, in the summer of 1917,
Marjorie is devastated when she learns that he has enrolled in the
army, to fight in the European War...
Script: Booth Tarkington, Jack Rose, Melville Shavelson
Cinematographer: Ernest Haller
Music: Max Steiner
Cast: Doris Day (Marjorie Winfield),
Gordon MacRae (William Sherman),
Jack Smith (Hubert Wakely),
Leon Ames (George Winfield),
Rosemary DeCamp (Alice Winfield),
Mary Wickes (Stella),
Ellen Corby (Miss Mary Stevens),
Billy Gray (Wesley Winfield),
Henry East (Doughboy by Train),
Jeffrey Stevens (Jim Sherman),
Eddie Marr (Contest Barker),
Sig Arno (Prof. Barson),
Lois Austin (Mother in Silent Movie),
Tony Butala (Boy Caroler),
Esther Dale (Aunt Martha Robertson),
Bert Davidson (Soldier),
James Dobson (Army Sergeant),
Creighton Hale (Father in Silent Movie),
Sherry Hall (Ticket Seller),
John Hedloe (Senior)
Country: USA
Language: English
Support: Color
Runtime: 95 min
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