Lua de Amor

Fates are thrown upside down in seconds in this film. One minute your the top of the bill, the next you're nobody. And I mean, NOBODY: starving, neglected... seems these people never heard of investing your money wisely. Harshness of Hollywood? Probably, or at least a 30s attempt to dramatize the life in the glamour city. The result isn't the best possible, but this flick is very likable nevertheless. The music is much, much better than the film - potential A-level material. And it gets a good treatment, especially during the last song, as Grace Bradley starts out a Capella when the orchestra leader rushes out. I like Grace Bradley very much. She's very pretty without trying to appear precious or overly sweet. There's a modern quality in her, and her voice - both when she speaks and when she sings - is top quality. I wonder why she never became a real queen of the screen. Really enjoyable 54 minutes. Included in Classic Musicals 50 Movie Pack.

"Sitting on the Moon" is a pretty good B-movie, so don't believe the notion that Bs were bad. They weren't...they were just intended as an inexpensive second film at a double-feature.

Danny West (Roger Pryor) is a successful songwriter, though he isn't exactly disciplined. However, when he sees that Polly Blair (Grace Bradley) is out of work, he cleans himself up and helps her on her feet. You see, Polly had been a big movie star but had fallen on hard times...and he's determined to help her. And, help her he does. But in the meantime, Danny gets himself into hot water and it's time for Polly to return the favor.

"Sitting on the Moon" is a solid and enjoyable film. The title refers to a song Danny wrote for Polly and the acting and writing are very nice. In addition, look for Pert Kelton as Polly's friend. Pert was the original Alice from "The Honeymooners"...before Audrey Meadows.

Good little 'B' musical with some pluses going for it, mainly Grace Bradley. Vivacious and very pretty, she brightens every scene she appears in. And she can sing, in addition to her other assets. Had never heard of this picture before, and as someone noted, it was most likely the bottom half of a double feature.

"Sitting On The Moon" just goes to show you; you never can tell where or when a good movie will pop up - even tiny Republic Studios could ring the bell once in a while. I especially liked the closing number, "Lost in My Dreams", a song never heard nowadays.

Nothing remarkable here. Nonetheless the programmer reflects quality Hollywood craftsmanship even at lowly Republic Pictures level. Floundering songwriter Pryor wants to help equally floundering songstress Bradley. Both are talented and together they show promise, she trilling his words and music. Trouble is both are blackballed in the industry through mix-ups. Thus they struggle to win their rightful place, and just as importantly, by remaining together.

Bradley was new to me, but she's quite winning in the role, projecting both sweetness and dedication. Too bad she retired early to become Hopalong's real life wife. The songs and staging are entertaining without being memorable, while Newell and Kelton supply occasional comic relief. Also, it's kind of nostalgic for us geezers to see how radio programs were put together during that era. Anyway, it's the kind of light entertainment that kept old time movie-goers coming back for more Hollywood escapism, even if it was at the bottom of a double-bill. So modern day viewers could do a lot worse.

When I looked at the main credits for this movie, I didn't expect much. Nat Levine producing for Republic? Ralph Staub directing? I certainly didn't expect this movie about mediocre songwriter Roger Pryor and washed-up star Grace Bradley falling in love and inspiring each other to success to be more than a cheap programmer, especially when the main supports are William Newell and the annoying Pert Kelton; it's not until I delved further into the cast list that I spotted Henry Kolker as a radio sponsor and Joyce Compton as the wife Pryor married on a toot in Tijuana that I saw anything to hope for.

Yet this cheaply done, cynical romantic comedy matches its subject so well, and Pryor and Bradley speak what would all too often be gushy lines simply, offers a good deal of charm to this this 53-minute B movie. Their characters' decency overcomes a few plot holes and a couple of decent songs fit the picture very well. While it's by no means a classic, it is an extremely engaging little flick.