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From Walt Disney, an overly-involved story of jewel thieves and a young girl swept away by intrigue while vacationing in Crete. I understand why some say the film is sluggish or dull; it does drag, and has one too many plots going on, not to mention far too many characters who may-or-may-not be what they seem. However, Hayley Mills is enchanting as intrepid Nikky Ferris. She gets her ire up, gets to be silly, trades quips with Pola Negri (looking regal). Also fabulous: the dizzying sequence where Mills escapes villainous Eli Wallach by jumping from a windmill (beautiful camera-work and direction). Not a taut Hitchcockian mystery, but a good attempt at one. Terrific Terry Gilkyson theme song, fine supporting work from Wallach, Joan Greenwood and young Peter McEnery, who gives Hayley her first screen kiss. *** from ****

No classic, but very pleasing, old-fashioned, middlebrow entertainment of a kind we used to take for granted. A little comedy, a little romance, a lot of action, plenty of eye-filling locations, and, in particular, a trio of wonderful women. Hayley's charming in one of her first puppy-love roles; Joan Greenwood, of the delicious voice, is, as always, indispensable; and Pola Negri does some spirited scenery-chewing in a prominent cameo. They thoroughly outclass the men, including a hammy Eli Wallach and a pallid Peter McEnery.

Nothing about it is exceptional, but everything about it is at least competent. The direction is a little obvious: Every time a Maguffin appears in the script, Neilson pulls in for a close-up. Perhaps that's a sop to help the kiddies follow the story, though, despite the Disney imprimatur, it's not really a little-kids' film. On the contrary, it's one of Disney's least cloying, and one of the most appealing for grownups.

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.

I saw the film in 1964 when I was 11 and loved it then. I feel the old Disney films are still the best. As I know many of my students are not familiar with the old films, I showed it to my fifth-graders recently, and they loved it (and asked to see it again). For youth viewing, the film still holds up. I still love it.

I guess the script wasn't top-notch... Okay, it wasn't, but there are plenty of other things to concentrate on here. Pretty good performances from Eli Wallach as the villian, Hayley Mills and Peter McEnery as the detectives/romantic leads, and Irene Papas as the villian's nervous sister, who dosen't have much to do but makes an impression. Also, funny comic performances from Joan Greenwood as Mills' aunt and the appearence of Pola Negri, the silent screen star, as the jewel collector Madame Habib. The gorgeous scenery of Crete is also a big asset. I found the film to be pretty suspenseful and engaging throughout. I really wasn't sure just what was going to happen next. It did keep me on the edge of my seat in some spots. The only weak link was a very rushed and uneventful conclusion, but otherwise very well-done. This was Disney's answer to Hitchcock, and also an apparent attempt to get his young star, Miss Mills, into more adult roles after four years of excellent but very "kiddie" films for the studio. Unfortunately, she didn't get any more roles like this at Disney; her next and last was in "That Darn Cat!", a very enjoyable and funny film but still aimed more at kids. She ended up having to leave the studio, do a nude scene in another film, and have an affair with an older man in order to become more adult in the eyes of the world. Still, this was her starting point, and while Hitchcock could easily have topped this and any other suspense/mystery film, it's still fun to watch and suspenseful, never boring. See it; you won't be sorry.

An aunt and niece (Joan Greenwood & Hayley Mills) are traveling through remote areas of Crete whereupon they encounter the suspicious brother of the proprietress of an inhospitable coastal hotel (Eli Wallach). Intrigue ensues. Peter McEnery plays a young Brit the girl finds attractive while Pola Negri shows up in the last act.

"The Moon-Spinners" (1964) inserts Hayley Mills into an island adventure that works well because it's relatively realistic, has superb locations/sets and a well-chosen cast (e.g. Wallach is perfect as the villain). It's basically Hayley Mills meets "North by Northwest" (1959) and "The Day the Fish Came Out" (1967).

Hayley was 17 during shooting and blossoming into a winsome young woman.

The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot on Crete and Pinewood Studios, London.

GRADE: B+

In some of her early films, such as 'Tiger Bay' or 'Whistle Down the Wind', Hayley Mills revealed herself to be one of Britain's most remarkable child actresses, but as an adult her films were generally unremarkable. The light family films she made in her teenage years for Disney and others can be seen as marking a stage in her decline to the ordinary from the extraordinary. Indeed, they were possibly a cause of that decline; had she been given more demanding roles during this period she might have matured into a bigger adult star. The studios' determination to fit her into the role of Teenage Virgin Queen occupied a few years earlier by Sandra Dee might also have made it more difficult for the public to accept her as an adult woman.

'The Moonspinners' is a typical offering from her Disney period. The teenage Nikky Ferris arrives for a holiday in Crete with her aunt, a musicologist who wants to make recordings of Cretan folk-music. The owner of their hotel, however, is unwelcoming and his behaviour soon arises Nikky's suspicions that he is involved in some criminal enterprise. Nikky meets and befriends a young Englishman, Mark, and the two soon find themselves involved in a search to recover some stolen jewels.

Several other reviewers compare this film to the work of Alfred Hitchcock. The film is a mixture of romantic comedy and thriller, although I felt that the romance and comedy elements predominate over the suspense elements to a greater extent than they ever do in Hitchcock, even in his lighter films. The scene where Nikki and Mark are rescued from the windmill, however, did strike me as very Hitchcockian; I wondered if it was intended as deliberate homage to the similar scene involving Joel McCrae in 'Foreign Correspondent'.

My general impression of the film was that it was, despite some attractive location photography, a fairly routine light thriller. Peter McEnery, as Mark, makes an uncharismatic leading man, and the principal baddies (Eli Wallach as suspicious, surly foreigner and John Le Mesurier as smooth but hypocritical English gentleman) are drawn straight from the Official Hollywood Scriptwriter's Guide to Stock Villainous Characters. There is an amusing cameo from Sheila Hancock as Le Mesurier's alcoholic wife, but the best thing about the film is the presence of Hayley herself. She reminded me of Audrey Hepburn whose charisma and presence frequently enabled her to make memorable what would otherwise have been very ordinary thrillers or romantic comedies. Hayley was, of course, considerably younger than Audrey and (in my view) less classically beautiful, but shared with her the ability to carry a film through charm and charisma. 'The Moonspinners' is not in the same league as Hayley's best films, but it is worth watching for a chance to see this fine young actress. 6/10

Although she would soon be leaving Disney Studios Hayley Mills at the age of 18 got a chance at a semi-adult role with a semi-adult romance with young Peter McEnery in The Moon-Spinners. The film is worth a look if for no other reason than the great location cinematography on the Island of Crete.

Mills and her aunt Joan Greenwood are on holiday in Crete and they arrive at the small inn that they were supposed to be staying and the owner, Irene Papas is decidedly cool and has to be forced to provide Mills and Greenwood with accommodations. Eli Wallach who is Papas's brother is most unfriendly wishing they would leave post haste.

Wallach has reason for wanting them out, he's planning to sell some stolen jewels to Pola Negri who's collected a lot of such loot with six husbands along the way. But Peter McEnery has different ideas. He's got his own plans for the jewels.

McEnery and Mills make a fine attractive young couple and Eli Wallach as the villain is at his best. When is he ever not. And the chance to see three legends of varying degree as Irene Papas, Joan Greenwood, and silent star Pola Negri in a comeback role is not to be missed.

The Moon-Spinners plays a like a Nancy Drew mystery and I wonder why Disney never cast Hayley Mills as the teen sleuth. She would have been perfect in the role. Kids and adults will enjoy this film from the Magic Kingdom.

This movie is one of my favorites from the 1960's and I watch it again every once in a while. It's also one of my favorite Hayley Mills movies. The locations are beautiful, interesting and different. The story is a solid mystery with sympathetic characters, and Mills plays a feisty, strong young woman. The production values are a bit wanting, however, especially during the windmill scenes. There's delightful humor, also, especially in some unexpected sights. And Pola Negri gives a fine performance. I love this movie and recommend it for anyone who likes a good mystery or Hayley Mills or Crete.

Nikky Ferris (Hayley Mills) is traveling with her aunt Frances Ferris in Crete. Frances is collecting folk music for the BBC. They arrive at the local hotel The Moon-Spinners as it hosts a large wedding celebration. The owner reluctantly gives them a room. Uncle Stratos (Eli Wallach) is pushing to eject the two Englishwomen. The ladies are joined by handsome fellow British travel Mark. Nikky finds Stratos rummaging through their bags. She stumbles across a dark mystery.

Disney teen star Hayley Mills is trying to do something a little more serious. It is still Disney but it does have some edge. It has romance. It has danger. It's not anything great. It tries to be Hitchcockian but it's more like Nancy Drew. I don't particular love Hayley in this and her aunt is a little annoying. She's a bubbly teen trying to act. It does have Wallach doing a villain. This is interesting especially for Hayley Mills fans.

The Moon-Spinners is classic Disney-style fare from the mid-60s. It fits right in the groove with other Disney movies from that era like "That Darn Cat" and "The Love Bug". Keep in mind that this stylistic resemblance may be seen as an advantage or a serious flaw.

The story happens in Greece, on the island of Crete, though it's actually not very much about Greece or its culture. Of the seven major characters, only one is actually Greek. Two of the actors (notably Eli Wallach) play at being Hellenic while struggling through bad accents and mangled dialog. Culturally, the whole film is a profound embarrassment if you know anything about Greece. But of course, that wasn't the point of the project. Rather, it was a vehicle for Haley Mills. By this standard, she does good work presenting herself as a wacky cute girl who stumbles onto a scheme involving stolen jewels. The plot itself is needlessly confused, and characters say and do all sorts of things that make no practical sense except as stale devices to move the story along. The truly shining moments of the film come only near the end in scenes involving former silent-movie-legend Pola Negri in her final film role. At this point the movie thoroughly entertains and nearly makes up for the hour-plus of previous tedium. Unfortunately, even Eli Wallach fails to impress in this strained vehicle. If you're looking for a "good movie", one with a solid plot and uniformly good acting and directing, then pass on The Moon-Spinners. It's really quite unremarkable. But if you want to conjure warm memories of a classic-Disney childhood, and you want to see the last glimpse of the amazing Pola Negri, then definitely watch this film.

The Moon-Spinners, which takes Hayley Mills to the island of Crete, is an exciting adventure story that's appropriate for children of all ages. Mills is Nikki Ferris, a young woman on vacation with her aunt. "Moon-Spinners" moves quickly into action and is definitely better than Mills' previous film, Summer Magic, because of its expansion and explanation of different characters' backgrounds. If you like Hayley Mills' Disney films, you'll love The Moon-Spinners".

The "moon-spinners" from '64, is latter-day Disney fare, so there's a surprising amount of bite to the story, for a Hayley Mills film. Hayley, who never looked more lovely, plays young Nikki Ferris, on vacation with her Aunt on Crete. The locations are absolutely gorgeous! Hayley is soon mixed up with compatriot Mark Camford and they become embroiled in jewel theft and attempted murder.

The film does drag a bit at times, but you can always look at Mayley, a windmill stunt is fun and Eli Wallach has a juicy part as the villainous Stratos. Unfortunately the great Irene Papas is wasted as his sister, who clearly doesn't approve. Some characters introduced very late in the story don't quite make sense, still its an exciting mystery and one does want to see how it turns out.

The "Moon-Spinners" is a good family film. It does contain some violence and a bit of bloodshed, so I guess this would be "PG", but its really just fine for ten and up. Recommended for fans of Disney live-action and Hayley Mills.

The Moon-Spinners is by far a classic movie for your video collection. Besides great actors, this movie has every little speck of something for everyone. A fortune in stolen jewels, add a dash of danger, a pinch of romance, and season this movie with Alfred Hitchcock-like intrigue and comic flair, and you have a helluva movie for the entire family! 8 out of 10.

While I was a great Hayley Mills fan during that era, I found this dumbed down Disney adaptation of Mary Stewart's engrossing novel disappointing. The story revolves around a young girl, Nikki Ferris, who travels with her aunt to the Greek island of Crete. While there, Nikki and a handsome young love interest named Mark become involved in unearthing a case of jewel theft and murder, all in connection with the hotel's surly, unwelcoming owner and her villainous brother, Stratos.

My complaints are numerous. For starters, Stewart's heroine is supposed to be a young woman in her early 20's...smart, independent, and competent though ultimately vulnerable to the unfolding events. Hayley Mills, much as I like this actress, just seemed totally wrong for the role. Stewart's Nicola simply isn't intended to be the perky, whiny, fresh faced teenager, Nikki, that is portrayed here by Mills. Also, although there is a budding romance involved, the novel is essentially a mystery thriller. This movie seems more a teen romantic comedy with a few mystery / suspense elements thrown in. Some have aptly described Nikki's relationship with Mark as puppy love. In the novel Nicola is older and it's a genuine romance.

I loved the book which I read as a teenager myself and really admired Nicola, who's such an intelligent heroine. It was so difficult for me to get past her age & character transformation and the different genre given to the tale that I failed to enjoy this movie. Really, the entire plot of this Disney flick deviates so much from the novel that most of the time, I would hardly have recognized it.

However, there is lovely Greek scenery and it's undoubtedly an entertaining film for those who haven't read the book. I don't begrudge anyone their enjoyment of it. Hayley gets her first screen kiss here from Peter McEnery who portrays Mark. Also, I'd definitely recommend this movie for viewing by young people, as it's a whole lot more inspiring than most of what's out there these days. Just whatever you do, don't read the novel first! I repeat...DO NOT READ THE BOOK FIRST.

A passable time-filler from Disney. No great shakes in terms of script or direction, but it does feature some pretty well-executed stunts, and an extremely winning performance by Hayley Mills. Though sometimes sluggish, this thriller manages to remain reasonably absorbing most of the time and you can spend a fairly pleasant afternoon watching it.

First off, I am a fan of Hayley Mills. That is why I saw this film in the first place. I like her work and this Disney film has a certain draw that I enjoy.

The setting (actually filmed there) is great and the music a nice backdrop. McEnery adds a nice romantic flair. What can I say? I liked him. I'll admit that the film has its faults, and it is not on any of my top film lists. The film drags on in several chunks of the story. You can read more on the plot from others, this is just my opinion overall.

But, if you like Hayley in late Disney style, off the coast of Greece somewhere helping McEnery against jewel criminals,... then this flick is for you.

:) GRADE: Low B

Back in the early 1960's - Hayley Mills was easily recognizable as one of the most idealized movie-teens of that era. This was the era of "so-called" innocence before the drug-crazed counter-culture bulldozed its way into our collective consciousness, utterly destroying that innocence forever.

Pretty, blonde, bright, and a very competent, young actress in her own right - Mills starred in numerous light-weight comedy/dramas throughout the early part of that shaky decade. The Moon-Spinners was definitely one of Mills' better films.

Released in 1964 - The Moon-Spinners was intended to be Disney's attempt at some "Hitchcock"-like intrigue, with a touch of sugar-coated comedy and romance thrown in for good measure.

The Moon-Spinners may be just light-weight drama to most, but, all the same, it is thoroughly enjoyable movie-entertainment for all ages.

As an added bonus - Silent-Screen star, Pola Negri appeared in this flick as the wicked villainess, Madame Habib. Negri had been absent from the screen since 1943.

I loved this movie. I first saw it when I was seven years old, so I developed my first crush on Haley Mills. I remember staring at a full moon and being transported to the Greek isles and holding hands with her and going on all sorts of adventures......sigh. and then there is The Truth About Spring and Search for the Castaways....a little boys heart was just a fluttering. Back to the Moon...I so wanted to be on that island to help her and her friend. I was all in knots during the wind mill adventure...wow for a seven year old that was very intense, especially for a country boy. I remember yelling at the movie screen when things got too intense, and I was very relieved when everything turned out OK. Yes the movie was very good and still would be good with another leading lady, but I am glad that Mr Disney found Haley Mills!

Whether a film is, or is not, "like the book" that it is purportedly based on, is surely the most ridiculous reason for liking or disliking it.

A film is a film and a book is a book. Two very different art forms. No one can "film a book." For one thing, they won't fit. A long movie has roughly the content of a short story. Trying too hard to pack in all the material of the book is a recipe for cinematic disaster. On the other hand, drawing inspiration from a great book can often produce a great movie. But the two remain separate works and must be judged separately.

Never was this more true than in the case of Walt Disney. His movies, even the ones he produced at arm's length, like The Moon-Spinners, were always "Disney" movies first and foremost. Products of his unique vision. That was always a given... when you went to see a Disney movie, you knew what to expect. Not the "Mary Poppins" of the books, nor the Mowgli of Kipling. You knew it would be Disney's Mowgli... and you knew he'd be a wonderful creation in his own right.

Though it fits well with Disney's other UK-produced works (Greyfriars Bobby, Emil and the Detectives, Darby O'Gill, etc.) The Moon-Spinners is still very much a Disney movie. It's warm and safe, even in its most dangerous moments. It transports us back to a time and place that never really existed, except in Walt's imagination. But which we always WANTED to exist. A place where we could romp up and down Cretan hills with the glowing (and by now disturbingly voluptuous) Haley Mills. ("Double chins" indeed! Only the most anorexia-fixated American viewer could fail to find her a vision of beauty in this film.)

The story line is slim, to be sure, but actually quite robust by Disney standards. It's Disney's Midsummer Night's dream... a memory of a dream of a romp on a warm summer night on a romantic Mediterranean isle. That's more than enough for me... though like any dream, it's a very personal thing.

The only recommendation I would ever give this film is to watch it for the appearance of silent-screen legend; Pola Negri. Still beautiful, this was her first film in years and sadly, her last. Otherwise, the rest of the movie is one big yawn. Boring!

I saw this in the theater when it came out in 1964. It became one of my favorite movies of all times. No, the acting wasn't the best, the plot has holes, and it is a saccharine Disney movie. But it is also pure, clean entertainment. My elderly father loves it, I still enjoy watching it, and my grandchildren do, too. That is my measurement of "pure entertainment." At the first showing I fell deeply in love with Peter McEnery - as only a 14-year-old could do. It is a shame that this movie is his only real claim to fame. The other reviews say pretty much what else I would like to say about the movie. At the time I wanted to be Haley Mills, I wanted to go to Crete to see the windmills and dance with the locals and hear them sing. I wanted to board a fantastic yacht and pet an ocelot. Especially, I wanted a little romance with a tall, handsome British man with lots of wavy hair, a man with a secret, who also respected me and would save me in time of danger. It was a wonderful movie.