The Moon Is Blue

PG

Released Jun 3, 1953

1h 39m

Comedy

List

44%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

In New York City, prim and proper would-be actress Patty O'Neill (Maggie McNamara) meets charming architect Donald Gresham (William Holden) and, despite learning he has a girlfriend and being wary of his intentions, accompanies him to his apartment for dinner. They meet Don's girlfriend, Cynthia (Dawn Addams), in the elevator, but she ignores both of them. Later, when Don goes to buy groceries, Cynthia returns -- as does her decadent father, David (David Niven), who Patty unexpectedly likes.

Read More

Read Less

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Aside from its candor, however, and its audacity with the words, The Moon Is Blue is not outstanding, either as a romance or as film.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

Despite the fuss at the time, there's little blue about this except the title.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

For all the movie's staginess and datedness, it's a more personal and ambiguous work than it initially appears to be.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Manny Farber

The Nation

The Moon Is Blue is a small comedy that seems to sparkle, sound monotonous, look machine-made, and appear smartly guided at the same moment.

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Known today because it challenged the Hollywood Production Code.

Rated: B-

Sep 18, 2010

Full Review

TV Guide

No one today is likely to mistake this smarmy little sex farce for a good film, but it is significant historically as one of the nails in the coffin of Hollywood's self-imposed Production Code.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

Ed M

Boring and dated. William Holden is good, but the rest of the cast is bad.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/17/22

Full Review

steve d

A weak romance with a weak premise.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Comedia a la antigua.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyable comic romantic story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I really enjoyed this movie. Started my Saturday morning with it, and it made me feel light hearted and warm. Kind of like riding my old 68 motorcycle, throttle brakes and a clutch, horn doesn't work, speedometer fell off a long time ago, but it purrs like a kitten.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ridiculous and unfunny. Not even David Niven could save it.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Otto Preminger

Director

William Holden

Donald Gresham

David Niven

David Slater

Maggie McNamara

Patty O'Neill

Tom Tully

Michael O'Neill

Dawn Addams

Cynthia Slater

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

88%

73%

The Trouble With Harry

TRAILER

for The Trouble With Harry

85%

81%

Cactus Flower

82%

64%

The Owl and the Pussycat

100%

75%

Lovers and Other Strangers

92%

73%

The Heartbreak Kid

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In New York City, prim and proper would-be actress Patty O'Neill (Maggie McNamara) meets charming architect Donald Gresham (William Holden) and, despite learning he has a girlfriend and being wary of his intentions, accompanies him to his apartment for dinner. They meet Don's girlfriend, Cynthia (Dawn Addams), in the elevator, but she ignores both of them. Later, when Don goes to buy groceries, Cynthia returns -- as does her decadent father, David (David Niven), who Patty unexpectedly likes.

Director: Otto Preminger
Production Co: Otto Preminger Films
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 3, 1953, Original
Release Date (DVD): Oct 21, 2009
Runtime: 1h 39m