The Moon Is Blue

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The Moon Is Blue

PG

Released Jun 3, 1953

1h 39m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

44%

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9 Reviews

54%

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250+ Ratings

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.

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

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Tom Milne

Time Out

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

Feb 9, 2006

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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

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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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Known today because it challenged the Hollywood Production Code.

Rated: B-

Sep 18, 2010

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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

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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

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steve d

A weak romance with a weak premise.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Comedia a la antigua.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

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Audience Member

Enjoyable comic romantic story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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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

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Audience Member

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

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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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

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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
Producer: Otto Preminger, F. Hugh Herbert
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