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The Moon-Spinners

  • 19641964
  • GG
  • 1h 58m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Hayley Mills and Peter McEnery in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
AdventureFamilyMystery

A teenager encounters romance, intrigue and a search for stolen jewels during her visit to the island of Crete.A teenager encounters romance, intrigue and a search for stolen jewels during her visit to the island of Crete.A teenager encounters romance, intrigue and a search for stolen jewels during her visit to the island of Crete.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • James Neilson
  • Writers
    • Michael Dyne(screenplay)
    • Mary Stewart(book "The Moon-Spinners")
  • Stars
    • Hayley Mills
    • Eli Wallach
    • Pola Negri
Top credits
  • Director
    • James Neilson
  • Writers
    • Michael Dyne(screenplay)
    • Mary Stewart(book "The Moon-Spinners")
  • Stars
    • Hayley Mills
    • Eli Wallach
    • Pola Negri
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos55

    The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Hayley Mills in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Hayley Mills, Joan Greenwood, and Harry Tardios in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    John Le Mesurier and Eli Wallach in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Pola Negri in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Michael Davis and Irene Papas in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Michael Davis in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Joan Greenwood in The Moon-Spinners (1964)
    Irene Papas in The Moon-Spinners (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hayley Mills
    Hayley Mills
    • Nikky Ferrisas Nikky Ferris
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • Stratosas Stratos
    Pola Negri
    Pola Negri
    • Madame Habibas Madame Habib
    Peter McEnery
    Peter McEnery
    • Mark Camfordas Mark Camford
    Joan Greenwood
    Joan Greenwood
    • Aunt Frances Ferrisas Aunt Frances Ferris
    Irene Papas
    Irene Papas
    • Sophiaas Sophia
    John Le Mesurier
    John Le Mesurier
    • Anthony Gambleas Anthony Gamble
    Paul Stassino
    Paul Stassino
    • Lambisas Lambis
    Sheila Hancock
    Sheila Hancock
    • Cynthia Gambleas Cynthia Gamble
    Michael Davis
    Michael Davis
    • Alexisas Alexis
    André Morell
    André Morell
    • Yacht Captainas Yacht Captain
    • (as Andre Morell)
    George Pastell
    George Pastell
    • Police Lieutenantas Police Lieutenant
    Tutte Lemkow
    Tutte Lemkow
    • Orestesas Orestes
    Steve Plytas
    • Hearse Driveras Hearse Driver
    Harry Tardios
    • Bus Driveras Bus Driver
    Pamela Barrie
    • Ariadneas Ariadne
    Terry Gilkyson
    • Singeras Singer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James Neilson
    • Writers
      • Michael Dyne(screenplay)
      • Mary Stewart(book "The Moon-Spinners")
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    British musicologist Frances Ferris (Joan Greenwood) and her late teen niece Nikky Ferris (Hayley Mills) are travelling through Crete recording Greek folk songs for the BBC. In the usually quiet coastal town of Aghios Georgios, they manage to get a room at an inn called "The Moon-Spinners", despite the people at the inn being busy preparing for a wedding, and no one there, except Alexis (Michael Davis), the young teen son of the proprietress Sophia (Irene Papas), he who is fond of spouting current popular Americanisms in his slightly broken English, seeming to want them there. Frances and Nikky learn from Alexis that the unwelcoming feeling is all because of his maternal Uncle Stratos (Eli Wallach), who has become a man suspicious of anyone ever since his recent return from London after being away for fifteen years. Beyond those there for the wedding, the only other guest at the inn is a young Englishman named Mark Camford (Peter McEnery), who they befriend. Nikky is too preoccupied with her own suspicions and mistrust of Stratos truly to see that there is something more sinister in the feelings between Stratos and Mark. Although they don't say anything to each other directly on the matter, Stratos knows why Mark is in Aghios Georgios and is always skin diving in the nearby Bay of Dolphins, and Mark knows that Stratos, and by association his other nephew Lambis (Paul Stassino), will be after him if he gets too close to what they have hidden in the bay before their intended method of disposal. By getting close to Mark, Nikky may unwittingly get caught up in what is the very dangerous and potentially life threatening game of cat-and-mouse between Stratos and Mark. —Huggo
    bare chested maleman wears a swimsuitwoman wears a nightgowncreteemerald24 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • HAYLEY and a ROMANTIC STRANGER bound together by an ancient secret... too dangerous to share!
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Family
      • Mystery
      • Romance
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Pola Negri (Madame Habib) had been retired for about twenty years when Producer Walt Disney convinced her to come out of retirement to make this movie. Studio Executive and co-Producer Bill Anderson telephoned Negri at home in Texas, and convinced the veteran actress to read the screenplay, after going to Hollywood to negotiate the project.
    • Goofs
      When Nickie is trapped in the windmill it is late afternoon, yet when they cut away to the aunt at the Inn, it is dark out as if it were night. Then, when Stratos goes to the windmill in the scene after that, it is late afternoon again.
    • Quotes

      Stratos: They cannot have lied. The stars cannot lie...

      Madame Habib: Everybody lies when it serves their purpose, even the stars

    • Connections
      Edited into Disneyland: The Moon-Spinners: Part 1 (1966)
    • Soundtracks
      The Moon-Spinners Song
      Written by Terry Gilkyson

      Performed by The Ron Grainer Orchestra

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Amusing adventure comedy, beautiful Hayley Mills and enchanting music
    Based on Mary Stuart's novel, The Moon-Spinners is a nice and amusing adventure comedy. Constructed a little bit like an Hitchcock movie, where tension is building up slowly but surely and where many characters are not always what they seem to be, it is filled with memorable scenes (the escape from the windmill, for example) and good humor. Although she may not be as sparkling as in Pollyanna or The Parent Trap, Hayley Mills is nevertheless still the star of the show, both charming and endearing. Furthermore, as a beautiful grown up, she is portraying a modern heroin, not afraid to take charge of her own detective work. As the villain, Eli Wallach is also particularly brilliant. Eventually, the music and, especially, the title song by Terry Gilkyson are lively and enchanting.
    helpful•11
    1
    • spletinckx
    • Jan 5, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 8, 1964 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Disney's Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Greek
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • The Moon Spinners
    • Filming locations
      • Agios Nicholaos, Crete, Greece
    • Production company
      • Walt Disney Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 58 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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