Product Details

• Actors: Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Leon Ames, Rosemary DeCamp, Billy Gray
• Directors: David Butler
• Writers: Booth Tarkington, Irving Elinson, Robert O'Brien
• Producers: William Jacobs
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1994
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302728363
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #118,567 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The huge popularity of the nostalgic On Moonlight Bay prompted this 1953 sequel, which recaptures the first film's small-town, post-WWI spirit. Because young lovers Doris Day and Gordon MacRae are already together, the movie needs some sort of trumped-up conflict to separate them for a while; it comes with MacRae's decision to postpone their wedding until he gets his financial legs. Yawn. But don't worry, the subplots abound, including younger brother Billy Gray pilfering a prize Thanksgiving turkey, and dad Leon Ames suspected of romancing a visiting French music-hall star. Naturally there are vintage songs, including umpteen renderings of the classic title song (you won't need the bouncing ball to sing along) and Day and MacRae casually bopping out new lyrics to "Ain't We Got Fun." Also returning for the sequel are Rosemary DeCamp as the patient mother and shameless scene-stealer Mary Wickes as the bossy maid. And check it out: future talk-show host Merv Griffin cheerleading during the finale at an outdoor ice rink. Day and MacRae twinkle so aggressively that they sometimes resemble salesmen for a particular kind of Hollywood backlot America that probably never existed, but the whole thing is almost impossible to resist. --Robert Horton

Product Description

"On Moonlight Bay" stars Doris Day and Gordon MacRae are back together in top tune-crooning form for the further adventures of a small-town family turning the corner from World War I into the Roaring '20s. Year: 1953 Director: David Butler Starring: Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Billy Gray

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOSTALGIC "MOON" SHINES A MELODIC LIGHT, December 26, 2001

By 

Paul Brogan (Concord, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: By the Light of the Silvery Moon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In the annual Quigley Poll of the top ten box-office attractions in America conducted at the end of 1952, Doris Day was determined to be the top money-making female star in films. "By the Light of the Silvery Moon", released in 1953, was her first film release after achieving that honor. "Moon" was a deserved success and certainly worthy of Day's position within the industry at that time.
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is the tuneful follow-up to the very popular 1951 hit for Warner Brothers, "On Moonlight Bay". Like its predecessor, it recalls another time and place in America, directly after World War I, bathing it in a nostalgic warmth and glow in stunning technicolor and reassembling most of the cast from the earlier film.
The characters and story are very loosely based on the "Penrod" series of stories written by Booth Tarkington.
Marjorie and Bill, the sweethearts of the piece, are played by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, in their 5th and final on-screen pairing. They harmonize beautifully and play their scenes with genuine and totally unaffected warmth and believability. Watching Day, it's easy to see why see held the lofty position within the industry that she held for so long. Her natural likeability and never cloying manner are soothing and when she sings, as she does frequently, one is transported to a safe and comfortable haven.
The songs include the title tune, "If You Were the Only Girl in the World" and "Ain't We Got Fun" to name but a few.
The remaining members of Marjorie's family are back from the earlier effort and seem to be more a family than ever before. Leon Ames is part bluster/part patriarch, while Rosemary DeCamp, as usual, is better than much of the material Hollywood generally gave her to work with. Billy Gray is appropriately rowdy but skillfully avoiding the obnoxious elements as Wesley and Mary Wickes, as she is prone to do, shines in every scene she plays, a natural treasure as one of the most unique character actresses in film history.
If you look quickly in the beautifully staged skating sequence near the film's conclusion, you'll spot Merv Griffin talking through a megaphone and urging everyone to skate with their sweetheart. Doris Day was responsible for getting Griffin a contract at Warners, which launched his career. In 1970, she made her first ever talk show appearance on his program.
"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is as substantial as a Hallmark Card brought to life but thanks to a fine cast headed by Day, who smoothly mixes the various facets of her character, some great tunes, a lightweight plot that never gets in the way of the music and some fine Warner Brothers production values, it works.
By the final credits you care so much about these characters that you almost wish Warner Brothers had done one more chapter to the story. The light in this moon certainly becomes everyone involved.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I am in love with Doris Day so my view doesn't count, May 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: By the Light of the Silvery Moon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I loved this movie, almost as much as Calamity Jane. If you like good moral values and humor, like it used to be. Then this is the movie for you. It's how life should be. You can have fun dreaming! Doris' voice is so beautiful it will tear your heart out. But like I said I am bias. So you have probally wasted your time reading this. Sorry!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic, Melodic, & Fun, November 28, 2003

By 

Veronica L. Rivera (Glendale, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: By the Light of the Silvery Moon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Though I loved the first movie "On Moonlight Bay," I have to admit that I loved this sequel even more. Gordon MacRae looks awfully handsome and his gorgeous voice just makes you fall in love with him. Doris Day looks even prettier than in the first movie with her blond hair all done up. There's so much chemistry between MacRae and Day that their romance bursts with believability.
The musical numbers are adorable and fun, you literally feel like you've stepped right into their world and become part of the Winfield clan. Like the first movie, though, once you get to the end, you'll be sorry it's over! Highly recommended!