The Moon Is Blue (1953)

Director:

Otto Preminger

Writers:

Sylvia Fine (lyrics)
F. Hugh Herbert (play)

Release Date:

8 July 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Sensationally Funny -- Recommended for Adults.

Plot:

Two aging playboys are both after the same attractive young woman, but she fends them off by claiming that she plans to remain a virgin until her wedding night. Both men determine to find a way around her objections.

Plot Keywords:

Bathrobe | Fog | Photograph | Elevator | Lipstick

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

William Holden	...	Donald Gresham
David Niven	...	David Slater
Maggie McNamara	...	Patty O'Neill
Tom Tully	...	Michael O'Neill
Dawn Addams	...	Cynthia Slater
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Television performer
Gregory Ratoff	...	Taxi Driver

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (nf) | UK:PG (1988) | UK:X (1953) (cut) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved | Sweden:15

Company:

Otto Preminger Films

Trivia:

This movie was used as a part of a plot line in the "The Moon is Not Blue" episode of "M*A*S*H." The plot line focuses on Hawkeye Pierce and B.J. Hunnicut trying to obtain a copy of the movie for the 4077th after hearing it has been banned in Boston. But when they finally get the film, they discover it's not at all explicit. Upon viewing the film, Hawkeye says the reason a character in the movie says the word "virgin" is because "Everyone in the movie *was*!"

Quotes:

Patty O'Neill: I'm not being bossy. It's the mother instinct.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)

Soundtrack:

The Moon is Blue

Another loopy, goofy, unpredictable yet wonderful film

Maybe it's just me, but I am a "sucker' for these goofy films predicated on a chance meeting between the opposite sexes and what happens next! A sophisticated architect meets a gal, chases up the Empire State Building to catch her, does so and then......well, you'll just have to watch to find out what quirky things happen next. Suffice to say that Holden and Niven are great, and who would have expected the Catholic Legion of Decency to issue a "C" condemned rating for this film when Holden had actually said "no" to his girlfriend? A must-see on the history of motion picture ratings, if nothing else.