Ring Around the Moon

I never thought I would recommend a Chesterfield movie, but this Poverty Row picture is surprisingly intelligent and charming. The story, about the love and money troubles of two couples, is hardly original, but the dialogue is as good as that of the products of the wealthy studios, and better than some. Lots of clever lines and pointed observations.

Donald Cook, whom I had always regarded as a nonentity, is here debonair and sympathetic, and is supported by a company of very pleasant and convincing actors. Another big surprise is the heroine's best friend, a type you would never see in any of the big-studio pictures--wearing severely tailored suits and standing with one hand on her hip, she leaves us in no doubt about the fierceness of her affections. There is also some good newsroom and barroom atmosphere of old New York.

If this were a big-studio production, I would rate it nearer a 6, but, given the enterprise and talent shown by the filmmakers, I feel it deserves more--and not just out of sentiment. The movie has that rare thing, a quality of being endearing and nice, that you never get in the big, brash, shiny movies.

"Ring Around the Moon" is a very low budget B- movie from tiny Chesterfield Productions, an organization that used RKO's lot at night to make inexpensive films. Surprisingly, despite smaller-time actors and all, the film is actually well worth seeing...mostly because it is not predictable and often delivers surprises. Plus, the ending is really sweet.

Ross (Donald Cook) is dating two women--one is a rich society lady (Gloria) and the other a co-worker at his newspaper. He seems to prefer the newspaper girl but ends up marrying Gloria instead...and soon regrets it and tells Gloria he's made a mistake. In the meantime, the old girlfriend has gotten married. What's next? You probably won't guess in a thousand years!!

The reason I liked the film, aside from it not being predictable, is that despite the smallness of the movie, the acting and direction are quite good. It really appears as if everyone was trying to make a very good picture...not another run of the mill B. This combined with a sweet ending make for a film worth seeing...just be sure to have some Kleenex handy...just in case.

Many films were made in the 1930's that depicted wealthy people suddenly losing their wealth and having to face lean times with all those others afflicted by the Great Depression. I imagine there were lots of poor people who at least got to fantasize during "Ring Around the Moon" about-- and vicariously experience-- being among the rich and then be gratified to learn that not all the wealthy can stay that way. The interesting thing about this film is that it was made on a depression-era shoestring budget, but has, nonetheless, an earnest, higher-end feeling about it. The acting is sincere and rehearsed with good line-delivery rhythm; seldom does one notice a low-budget, one-take -- whether good or bad-- approach. Donald Cook as Ross, the leading man, could easily have looked sappy or wimpy in this role, but he carries it with about as much dignity as one could. I found Ann Doran to be impressive and am surprised she wasn't given more opportunities after this appearance to make a name for herself. She has a look in this film much more modern than most other women of her era-- something about her facial structure, her speaking style, and her carriage makes her look more like a woman out of the late 20th Century rather than one from the mid 1930's. The movie depicts plenty of cigarette smoking, which for some reason doesn't really bother me or distract me from enjoying this film, or any other older film when there is smoking. By contrast, however, smoking in contemporary movies drives me nuts... it is annoying and just looks so affected and egotistical. In summary, I enjoyed this film very much, as it has a thoughtful and dramatic screenplay (albeit some of the portrayed decisions or actions may seem a bit unlikely in real life, at least in the 21st Century), with the acting and direction earnest and intent on providing a good entertainment...which it does.

Fine little comedy/drama about a poor reporter (Donald Cook) who's being chased by a selfish heiress (Erin O'Brien-Moore). He's sort of in love with a news hen (Ann Doran) but he's too poor to get married.

The heiress finagles the owner of the newspaper to fire Cook so that she can coerce him into marriage. When he thinks Doran might be interested in another man, he gives in. The marriage is a disaster from the start and her snooty friends treat him like a fortune hunter. He bails the marriage.

After the heiress' daddy goes broke and dies, she struggles to make a living, learning how the other half lives and getting her comeuppance.

Cook, Doran, and O'Brien-Moore are all fine in this little, low-budget film from Chesterfield. Also very good are Barbara Bedford as the snarky reporter and John Qualen as the single father.

Hard to find but worth a look.