Purely Joyful Movie!

Blistering performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Doris Day and Gordon MacRae star in this film about a soldier coming back from war and the impending nuptials soon to follow. The nuptials get put on hold and from there the calamities begin. Everyone buts their noses into everyone else's business, wrongly assumes things and then spreads the falsehoods to more town folk. At some point this became an increasing annoying plot point. The music does save it, but the viewer will most likely get frustrated at some point.

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is the natural follow-up to the 1951 film, "On Moonlight Bay." Warner Brothers must have known early that it had a hit on their hands with the first film, to have it end the way it did – begging for a sequel. And, thankfully, the whole troop from the first film could be cast again to pick up where life with the Winfield's left off. This second film has some more interesting situations that lend to the humor. The first involves thanksgiving dinner and private-eye Wesley's pet turkey, Gregory. The second involves a French actress, Renee LaRue (played by Maria Palmer), who's coming to town to put on a stage show. Another is a hilarious scene at the ice skating pond toward the end. Listen carefully for the announcer at the pond – that's the voice of Merv Griffin. Then there's the wedding of Marjorie (Doris Day) and Bill (Gordon MacRae) that one or the other of them puts off and then on again. That happens a few times in the movie. As in the first film, the cast is superb – each actor does a wonderful job. I think Leon Ames did a banner job in the personality changes of his role. And, I agree with other reviews that have noted Billy Gray's portrayal as Wesley. I like the way the script created situations of interest for him, and how he portrayed them. It brings back memories of how I too liked to play detective and private eye as a boy, and found other things of interest. Movies don't show those kinds of things anymore, but I see my grandkids with similar interests and pursuits. I suppose the hands-on, self-exploration interests of kids growing up – especially boys, is giving way today to the electronic information age and games of fantasy. Again, Doris Day and Gordon MacRae have some wonderful songs. They made four musicals together, and they were as perfectly matched as any couple of singers over the years. One other very good pairing for singing with Doris was Howard Keel in "Calamity Jane," the same year that this film was made.MacRae went on to star in more musicals, including two lavish Rodgers and Hammerstein films, "Oklahoma" in 1955 and "Carousel" in 1956. As musicals declined after the 1950s, MacRae did occasional movies and TV appearances. I saw and heard him sing the national anthem before a Midwest college football game in the early 1980s. Gordon MacRae died at age 64 of cancer of the mouth and jaw. This is another wonderful movie for the whole family. Life, culture, manners, pursuits and interests were quite different in those days. Most people didn't have housekeeper cooks though. But everyone could dream. And we today can enjoy the humor, romance and fun of those times long ago, that we get a taste of in "Silvery Moon."For a comic parting, here's an exchange in one scene about the turkey. George Winfield: "For the last time, that turkey does not belong in this house." Wesley: "Well, if he's good enough to be 'on' the table, he's good enough to walk around it."

Bemused old-fashioned corn from Warners, pleasantly set in small town America over the Thanksgiving holiday. A sequel to 1951's "On Moonlight Bay", the film continues the love story of Doris Day (in her tomboy period) and soldier Gordon McRae, as well as Doris' trouble-making little brother Billy Gray, and father Leon Ames (who finds himself involved in a scandal). Extremely pleasant, but a little lax. Director David Butler and his likable cast don't push the saccharine, they stay somewhat tongue-in-cheek, and Mary Wickes is a blessing as the sarcastic maid. However all these elements and characters were better (and fresher) the first time around. ** from ****

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.