Moonfleet

Released Jun 24, 1955

1 hr. 29 min.

Action

List

69%

13 Reviews

Tomatometer

70%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the 18th century British youngster John Mohune (Jon Whiteley) is shipped off to live with the dashing Jeremy Fox (Stewart Granger) after his mother's death. Fox pretends to be a respectable gentleman, but actually makes his fortune by leading a gang of swashbuckling bootleggers. The naive John has no clue that his new caretaker is a notorious crook, and he immediately takes to his new role model. Likewise, Jeremy grows fond of the child, and the unlikely duo soon embark on a treasure hunt.

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joe m

Well done yarn in the vein of the Howard Pyle type illustrated pirate stories, "Moonfleet" is the tale of a young boy who seeks out the his mother's youthful love (Stewart Granger) who happens to now be a 'gentleman' rogue who is also a smuggler. Fantastic set-up and sets with a plot that keeps the movie fast paced enough so you don't pay too much attention to the holes and ridiculousness of the whole story. Most will find it rather dated, yet I loved it!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Jon Whitley's performance was engaging and he is the high point of this film. The screenplay needed work - not a lot of meat or development. I agree with one of the other critics - a great example of pure escapism. A fun romp.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

ashley h

Moonfleet is a fantastic film. It is about young orphan John Mohune who arrives at the seaside Dorset village of Moonfleet seeking Jeremy Fox. Stewart Granger and George Sanders give excellent performances. The screenplay is good but a little slow in places. Fritz Lang did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the adventure and drama. Moonfleet is a must see.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

s r

An English smuggler's adventure. Not a very complicated plot, but entertaining just the same.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Slow swashbuckler about Redbeard, but under the direction of Fritz Lang, the film manages to have enough interesting visual touches and gothic atmosphere to make it worth watching. Stewart Granger is the lead pirate, on the run from the law and in search of a legendary diamond. It's all pretty forgettable and not terribly compelling, but if you're a Lang fan, it's worth checking out. George Sanders, Alan Napier and Jack Elam also appear in the film and Miklós Rózsa provides a good score.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Smuggling melodrama is well crafted, but slightly pedestrian. A good cast including Stewart Granger, George Sanders and a host of familar character actors - Skelton Knaggs, Ian Wolfe

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Fritz Lang

Director

Stewart Granger

Jeremy Fox

George Sanders

Lord James Ashwood

Joan Greenwood

Lady Clarista Ashwood

Viveca Lindfors

Mrs. Minton

Jon Whiteley

John Mohune

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TIME Magazine

The plot turns upon a lost diamond of great price, but mostly the film is a string of lively, unrelated escapades.

Oct 15, 2014

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

With mood and action the keynote of the John Houseman production, the direction by Fritz Lang plays both hard, developing considerable movement in several rugged action sequences without neglecting suspense.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Steve Jenkins

Time Out

A boy and a rakish smuggler search for a legendary lost diamond in a wonderfully stylised version of 19th century Cornwall.

Jun 24, 2006

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A rare misfire for the great Fritz Lang.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 31, 2019

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

This is a solid piece of good old-fashioned escapism.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 15, 2014

Full Review

TV Guide

It is not an entirely successful picture (though definitely far from dismissible), and Lang can be faulted mainly for his growing need to please himself rather than the public -- an attitude not subscribed to in most of his earlier works.

Rated: 2.5/4

Oct 15, 2014

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the 18th century British youngster John Mohune (Jon Whiteley) is shipped off to live with the dashing Jeremy Fox (Stewart Granger) after his mother's death. Fox pretends to be a respectable gentleman, but actually makes his fortune by leading a gang of swashbuckling bootleggers. The naive John has no clue that his new caretaker is a notorious crook, and he immediately takes to his new role model. Likewise, Jeremy grows fond of the child, and the unlikely duo soon embark on a treasure hunt.

Director: Fritz Lang
Screenwriter: Jan Lustig, Margaret Fitts
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 24, 1955, Original
Release Date (DVD): Oct 12, 2010