By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953)

The trials and tribulations of the Winfield family in small town Indiana as Marjorie Winfield's boyfriend, William Sherman, returns from the Army after W.W.I. Bill & Marjorie's on-again, ... See full summary »

Director:

David Butler

Writers:

Robert O'Brien, Irving Elinson,

Stars:

Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Leon Ames

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Doris Day	...	Marjorie Winfield
Gordon MacRae	...	Bill Sherman
Leon Ames	...	George Winfield
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Alice Winfield
Billy Gray	...	Wesley Winfield
Mary Wickes	...	Stella
Russell Arms	...	Chester Finley
Maria Palmer	...	Renee LaRue
Howard Wendell	...	John H. Harris
Walter 'PeeWee' Flannery	...	Ronald 'PeeWee' Harris (as Walter Flannery)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Meredith MacRae	...	Little Girl (scenes deleted)

Storyline

The trials and tribulations of the Winfield family in small town Indiana as Marjorie Winfield's boyfriend, William Sherman, returns from the Army after W.W.I. Bill & Marjorie's on-again, off-again provide the backdrop for other family issues, primarily brought on by little brother Wesley's overactive imagination and tall tales.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | imagination | little brother | post world war one | title based on song | 

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Taglines:

IT'S BRIGHT AND ROMANTIC! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1954 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Balada ao Luar

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film departs from "On Moonlight Bay" in three main ways. First, the film opens with Stella breaking the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly as she introduces the Winfield family. Second, the song and dance numbers are played like a traditional musical, while the original film incorporated the songs more organically within the story. Finally, the bespectacled music teacher, although the same basic character with the same mannerisms, has a different name and is played by a different actor, the only member of the cast who did not carry over from the original film.

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Goofs

When "Gregory" the turkey flies into the dining room from the kitchen during Thanksgiving dinner, the crew member who threw him into the room can be seen as the door swings shut.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Stella: Hello, Mr. Winfield.
Father Winfield: Good afternoon.
Stella: [to the camera] That's Mr. Winfield. Vice President of our first National Bank, Chairman of the Civic Betterment League, and twice winner of the Elks picnic potato sack race.

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Connections

Featured in So You Want a Television Set (1953)

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Soundtracks

"Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee"
(uncredited)
Music by Henry I. Marshall
Lyrics by Stanley Murphy
Sung by Russell Arms, Doris Day and Gordon MacRae

User Reviews

Wonderful followup film

This is the second of two movies about the same characters. Doris Day and Gordon MacRae play young newlyweds who are separated by WWI in this turn of the century inspired by the stories of Booth Tarkington. The story is told from her point of view and her home life with her mother, father and bratty brother are central to the film. Of the family members, the most memorable is Billy Gray ("Bud" from FATHER KNOWS BEST), as he is a terrible little brat that is a lot like Dennis the Menace and the Problem Child all rolled up into one.

While this film is so similar to the first that you might just mix them up in your mind after you see them, the movies are so pleasant and fun that you really don't mind. A wonderful romantic slice of life movie with a wonderful blend of comedy and heart.