On Moonlight Bay

Over 60 years since its initial release, On Moonlight Bay remains a fun and charming snapshot of classic Hollywood.

Weird attempt to turn Booth Tarkington's Penrod stories into a mini-Meet Me in St. Louis, co-starring Gordon MacRae and Leon Ames. [13 Apr 2007, p.C5]

Delightful period musical set in a small town on the eve of America's entry into World War Two. [09 Apr 2006, p.14]

All of the characters are good for some hefty laughs, and Del Ruth’s direction and the writing supply plenty of touches that keep punching the risibilities and jogging nostalgic memory.

Very much in the manner of Meet Me in St Louis, though nowhere near as good. The charming golden oldie score, featuring an array of hummable standards to go with the title song, is a definite plus.

Adapted from Booth Tarkington's Penrod stories and his Alice Adams, the Warner Bros. production suffuses its folksy story in nostalgia but never completely warms the hearts it aims for.

Although it strives to develop a genuine nostalgic mood, all that On Moonlight Bay seems to create, sadly enough, is the feeling that this film format is old hat.