On Moonlight Bay (1951)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(586 ratings)

Booth Tarkington's Alice Adams, coupled with his Penrod stories, were incorporated in the script of the 1951 Warner Bros. musical On Moonlight Bay. The role of the incorrigible Penrod is played by future Father Knows Best regular Billy Gray, but his is a strictly secondary part herein. The emphasis… More Booth Tarkington's Alice Adams, coupled with his Penrod stories, were incorporated in the script of the 1951 Warner Bros. musical On Moonlight Bay. The role of the incorrigible Penrod is played by future Father Knows Best regular Billy Gray, but his is a strictly secondary part herein. The emphasis is on Penrod's hoydenish older sister, played by Doris Day. She falls in love with Gordon MacRae, whose mildly anti-capitalist sentiments sit not at all well with Doris' banker dad (Leon Ames). Once a subplot involving Penrod's prevarications concerning his father's drinking habits is out of the way, we are treated to several romantic scenes involving Doris and Gordon, and a steady stream of early-20th-century standards like "Till We Meet Again," "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," "Cuddle Up a Little Closer," and the title song. On Moonlight Bay ends with MacRae marching off to World War I and Doris promising she'll wait for him; she did, as was proven in the 1953 sequel By the Light of the Silvery Moon. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Roy Del Ruth
Genres: Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 26, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Apr 10, 2007

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Pleasant enough old fashioned Warner musical with Day and MacRae singing the true oldies.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
there is an undercurrent of gossip, alcoholism and sexuality that modifies the film's optimisms, giving it a darker viewpoint than a standard musical comedy
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's the film that established Doris Day as the girl next door.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It's the delightful songs along the way that keep this one afloat.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...fun, frothy, and filled with an abundance of good, old-fashioned tunes.