Two aging playboys are both after the same attractive young woman, but she fends them off by claiming that she plans to remain a virgin until her wedding night. Both men determine to find a way around her objections.
I have looked for this movie for years... In 1954 it was being shown at a drive-in theater in Van Nuys, California. My very special new 15 year old boyfriend invited me - age 14 - to go to the drive-in with him and the pastor's daughter (15) and her boyfriend (16). (I had only been to the drive in with my family before this tine.) When my mother learned of the THEATER and the MOVIE, she was "fit to be tied." My dad was working in Japan and she was very strict. Anyway.. her main objection was that she had heard that the word "virgin" was said or referenced in the movie.. Mom loved my boyfriend, Pat, and he as been a part of my life all these years - even as we married others and went our separate ways. Thank you, Richard, for finding THE MOON IS BLUE for me😊.
wow that long? you remember the M.A.S.H. episode where it was all about finding this movie cause Hawkeye heard it was a dirty movie so him thinking it was a porn they somehow get it and he sees it's not and is disappointed. that's where i 1st heard of this movie. it's hard to believe how things' have changed since than, i was watching' The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950) early Tuesday morning i'm a nite owl and they mentioned the word Panties. today it's not a big deal but to take a guess i'm going to guess that was filmed in maybe (1949) and it was surprising that got passed the Hayes office cause of how strict they were back than even if it was just something really small.
@@retha1875 really?Nice I'm we think alike I still haven't watched it but Its on my list I'm a David Niven fan and I really haven't seen that many of his films I need to change that
Gone are the days that a girl can talk to a complete stranger and leave her purse unattended without worry. This movie is now in the fantasy category. Sad.
Brilliantly acted film. McNamara reminded me of Audrey Hepburn throughout (with a touch of the young Debbie Reynolds). Turns out both were nominated in 1953. Both for their first film. Both born in the same year (one month apart) and therefore the same age in their first film roles. But Audrey won the Oscar and had one of the most illustrious film careers of that decade and the next, whereas McNamara had one other co-starring role and her career fizzled out, ending in suicide. For television, she did play in one Twilight Zone episode and one Hitchcock Hour show.
I make the mistake of looking up films while in the middle of watching them. Then I find out the tragic outcomes of soms of these truly delightful actors and the mood changes. I try to wait until the end now. Watching the old Dark Shadows soap and learning just how many young actors we lost in the AIDS epidemic wes sobering.
Haggis, Maggie McNamara is much more beautiful then the skin and bones Hepburn and she's a better actress too, I would compare her more with Debbie Reynolds.
In this film I had the same observations. I believe McNamara played this role far better than Audrey would have. Its sad that the "business" of Hollywood determined the success of the one and the failure of the other. McNamara was brilliant in her role and in my opinion there was more than enough room for her to succeed. It's very sad that she apparently was treated poorly behind the scenes. In many ways her life fizzled out just like Marylin Monroe's life did. It seems Hollywood was a cruel mistress to them both. The MEN behind this business controlled the success or failure of the women they used for their own monetary gains. Marylin only moved up and was given opportunities becuase of the men directors, producers and actors she slept with. She even admitted thats how she was able to get some parts and get noticed. I have a sad feeling this was the same for Audrey and McNamara.
There's a Picasso on the wall. It may be "The Weeping Woman." William Holden and David Niven are two outstanding actors. And they are superb in this film. Thank you Delroy Smart for posting this.
In 1953, when this movie came out, it was considered very risqué...I was 12 years old and I remember everyone talking about it not being appropriate.. Always wondered what it was about and now 69 yrs later, compared to what we can now see on TV and the movies, it's really just a cute story with cute dialog
@@cejannuzi So sad. She got an Oscar nomination for this role but made only a few more movies and did some television before becoming a secretary. She was talented and charming enough to have gone further on screen.
I'm very glad to see this movie. It is one of my favorite comedies, and it is rarely shown on television. It is so sophisticated and classy. This film relies on excellent acting, intelligent and witty dialogue, superb storyline, and well crafted character development; no computer generated special effects, violence, or in your face vulgarity. Maggie McNamara is a gem. My favorite line is when Holden tells her that she is preoccupied with sex.....to which she replies: "Isn't it better for a girl to be preoccupied with sex, than occupied?"
Wonderful movie! One of the best I have seen in a long time! I agree with you about everything you said, including the line about being preoccupied with sex. I thought that was great!!! 😊
david niven is funny as all get out in this movie. he actually made me giggle! i saw this for the first time last year when cable channel surfing - an unexpected but pleasant surprise of a good movie.
The dialogue is so integral to the film, and it is superb -- and so well delivered. The movie moves along at a very pleasant pace and disappoints only when it no longer moves along.
Superb movie. A classic, I had not seen before. I laughed out loud, on several occasions. The script was highly original and so, so funny. I really did think for a moment it was Audrey Hepburn. Scary. And, William Holden was brilliant in anything. He had such a sad death. Thank you, Mr. Preminger.
Yeah, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who found her annoying. I couldn't even watch it to the end, I wanted to swat her like a mosquito when she was wandering around his apartment, picking up things, nosing into his stuff and asking endless questions.
The only breath of fresh air is the brilliant David Niven. Either he has the best lines or knows how to deliver them exquisitely. I had also forgotten what a sensation the dining table that changes from a coffee table into a dining table. Mid century modern.
I'm interested in vintage fashion so always notice the costume designers. The credit in this film said 'clothes by Don Loper.' Anyone who watched I Love Lucy remembers when Lucy wanted a dress by Don Loper when they were in Hollywood but Ricky said it was too expensive. Lucy was offered a free dress by Loper if she'd model in the Don Loper Hollywood housewives fashion show so she eagerly agreed. Then she wound up getting a terrible sunburn before the show. As luck would have it, the item she had to model was a scratchy tweed suit!
I remember that list well and that's exactly why I'm watching this movie at age 71, to see what the fuss was all about 😅 I remember the congregation standing up in the middle of the Mass and taking a vow to follow the tenets of the Catholic Legion of Decency 💃
I finally found and have finally seen the movie that was thought to be risque. Turns out it was a most delightful movie even with a little chatterbox like Maggie McNamara. Willian Holden and David Niven were brilliant in their roles as two men after the same girl and made this movie a classic to be watched again. Joe S
What a cute little gem! I like that the lead actor's from German version of this movie made an appearance towards the end here, it's also quite fun knowing this movie was regarded as ~ Risque ~ when it first came out 😂
They say this was controversial, but I bet it was really because she was an assertive woman who was nobody's fool. My things have changed. Bravo, well done. 5 stars.
I was a freshman in high school when this movie was released, and I remember it making the "Condemned" list in the Catholic Legion of Decency category of films. Parish priests warned their parishioners from the pulpit not to see this movie or allow anyone in their family to view it.
I worked in 2 Catholic schools and one 'Christian' School. Didn't find any sign of Religious 'values' in any of them. In fact, I found the worst kind of 'ethics' compared to working in public schools. I must admit I'm surprised this movie actually got past the censors for 1953!! First time I've seen this film and what a marvelous script and performances by the cast. Must have been a brave move by the producers to make this film!! ABSOLUTE GEM!!
I remember I was in Catholic school at the time and this was listed in the Sunday pamphlet as "movies we could not watch" they had a name for these movies it was called "Objectionable in Part" at the time parents really went by the recommendations but my mom and dad were pretty cool and so took it as a given that your child wouldn't go to see that movie. Wow, strict--that Catholic school was but I don't regret going there!
This was the first film we saw in film genre course at university. It was chosen in part because it was ground breaking for using certain words about unmarried sex. My class was decades after this film was made when films were being reviewed for how many “f” words were said to determine whether there would be an R or X rating. What a contrast in controversy.
“Patty” is a strange girl 🥰but very cute ! But this is a different Approach to the usual love story and I love David Niven and William Holden ! I agree that the young lady playing Patty favors Debbie Reynolds . Good movie ❤🎉
Because of it's dialogue, this film was controversial even before it's release. It was banned in Kansas, Ohio, and Maryland, but still made big money. Maggie retired from films early, and became a typist in NYC until her death by barbiturate o/d at 49yrs. Too bad- she was a cute kid. (wiki) After David Niven showed up, the contrast twixt he & Wm. Holden came into sharp contrast. Niven was not only a superior actor, but he had twice the charm & personality.
I am kinda shocked a movie like this was made in the early 50's. I guess this sh!t started earlier than I thought. But, that's how it always begins. From a future perspective, innocent and cute. But, FOR THE TIME, it truly was inappropriate and risque'. Things never start with a huge leap, it starts small then grows and grows till here we are today, living in a morally bankrupt, looney tunes world! It really needed to be nipped in the bud back then, and not tolerated, as allowing inappropriate behavior to exist and grow is exactly why we see the insanity in the world today that so many people, rightfully so, lament. But, alas, that is not the nature of the world we live in.
In 1954, my entire family enjoyed Doris Day in “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” so my parents thought this movie, with blue moon in the title, might be another family treat.My siblings and I were totally bemused with it all and at 7 years of age, I came out wondering what my father meant he said to my mother, “Not at all suitable for children” !? I do remember appreciating how handsome William Holden looked and even now, at my ripe old age, he is my main reason for re-watching this curiosity.
What a sweet movie 🎥😍 I very much enjoyed watching this I love the old movies In a time that was clean and People cared how they looked and Dressed properly not like today When a person wears house slippers And pajamas to the store....
The last time I saw this film was in 1953 and the Cameo Theater in Brewster New York when I was a teenager the Catholic League of decency Bandit for Catholics to go see because it's the first movie to use the word pregnant in. So of course I ran off to see it and watching it again tonight for the first time since I was a teenager wow that was a long time ago
The words "seduce", "virgin" and "mistress" was the first time that were used in this movie. The word "pregnant" was used two years earlier in "People Will Talk" released on Aug. 29, 1951. I'm not even sure if that was the first time the word "pregnant" was used in a movie.
@@zahramokhtar6727 Yes. I was twelve at the time this came out but can remember some sucking of teeth, albeit with tongue in cheek. I was from Catholic household, too.
@@zahramokhtar6727This movie was certainly 'pushing the envelope'. I was a teenager in the early 1970s, and my parents NEVER used the word "pregnant"; they would only say someone was "going to have a baby". We were poor, quiet (puritanical), devout Southern Baptists in Florida, and many words that other people used were not considered 'decent' by my family. "Pregnant" was one of the forbidden words, along with "divorce", "gee-whiz", "golly"; all the 4-letter words; curse words; any ethnic or racial slur words; and any body parts words that had anything to do with sex. My first husband was a Chicago ethnic German catholic; he used all of the above words, plus several I'd never heard before!
I grew up Baptist in the 1980s (Australia), and we weren't allowed to say shut-up, bum, crap, sex (had to be "make love"), wanker, or anything worse than that. I'm SHOCKED by the synopsis of this 1950s film (yet to view), that 2 male sluts try to bed a virgin who wants to wait for marriage. My first thought was, "where the slippery slope started." I sure hope people avoided it.
Great movie!! Bill Holden could have put the moves on me anytime😘It's so nice to see some of these classics. I'm not familiar with Maggies' career or how it ended but she was like Audrey Hepburn,they had the sameish style & delivery. Loved it☺️
Shocking for its time because the word "virgin" was used! And "pregnant!! Genuinely sophisticated screwball comedy with a great cast. Niven shines in a role obviously intended for a much older man.
David Niven's reply to, "do you do anything to make her [daughter] proud of you?" He goes to the couch, lays down & says, "you just connected with a vicious left hook below the belt." Well-delivered words and actions.
I believe Maggie McNamara played this role far better than Audrey would have and rightfully should have earned an Oscar for her performance. Its sad that the "business" of Hollywood determined the success of the one and the failure of the other. McNamara was brilliant in her role and in my opinion there was more than enough room for her to succeed. It's very sad that she apparently was treated poorly behind the scenes. In many ways her life fizzled out just like Marylin Monroe's life did. It seems Hollywood was a cruel mistress to them both. The MEN behind this business controlled the success or failure of the women they used for their own monetary gains. Marylin only moved up and was given opportunities becuase of the men directors, producers and actors she slept with. She even admitted thats how she was able to get some parts and get noticed. I have a sad feeling this was the same for McNamara. Maggie McNamara first came to public attention as Patty O'Neill in the 1951 national tour of F. Hugh Herbert's The Moon Is Blue which ran concurrently with the original Broadway production. In 1952 she succeeded Barbara Bel Geddes in that role in the Broadway production. Both productions were directed by Otto Preminger, and Preminger also directed McNamara in that role in the controversial (only becuase of the topic itself and frank discussion of said topic) 1953 film adaptation of that work. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the film, but lost out to her look alike twin of the same age Audrey Hepburn that year. Sadly she appeared in only three films after her The Moon Is Blue roles and made her final film in 1963. After five guest-starring roles in television series in the early 1960s, she retired from acting. For the remainder of her life, she worked as a typist in New York City. On February 18, 1978, McNamara died of a barbiturate overdose at the age of 49. Part of the reason why her career stalled has been attributed to her refusal to move to Los Angeles, she did not want to participate in that business and with the men or parties they were having. She also reportedly refused to do publicity for her films or pose for the cheesecake shots that studios generally expected their female stars to do, primarily becuase she understood what a REAL model did and this was not even close to modeling like she used to do before becoming an actress. Her career troubles were furthered by emotional problems that stemmed from her upbringing, her parents divorced when she was just 9 years old, as well as her introduction to the behind the scenes "business" of acting. In 1955 she had an affair with Richard Burton, her costar in Prince Of Players. Maggie's marriage to David Swift ended in 1957 and she suffered a nervous breakdown. It is believed that she left David for Richard, but Richard fell for another young actress by the name of Elizabeth Taylor by then and this broke Maggie's heart and caused her to suffer a mental and emotional breakdown. In his 1977 memoir, director Otto Preminger wrote that, Maggie suffered greatly after becoming a star. Something went wrong with her marriage to director David Swift (she had an Affair with Richard Burton, her costar in Prince of Players) and she suffered a nervous breakdown." On February 18, 1978, McNamara was found dead on the couch of her apartment in New York City. Like her predecessor Marylin Monroe, she had taken a deliberate overdose of sleeping pills and tranquilizers. SH also left a suicide note on her piano. According to police reports, she had a history of mental illness, and friends reported that she had suffered from acute depression. She is interred in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.
Thanks for the detailed info about Maggie McNamara. I always read through comments after seeing a YT movie, rather than before. Pleased I waited. Had not heard of her before, but like another commentors, laughed out loud. Like an ensemble play with fine actors bouncing off each other so well. Indeed it must have been ahead of its time with references to sex and other matters.
@@rrc5122 It's a cultivated 'Mid-Atlantic' accent that Hollywood liked in actresses for many roles and was associated actually with the more upper class of the NE US.
thanks for posting, I've always wanted to see it again since the first time 30-some years ago on late-night tv. Love the part with David Niven going on about popovers.. . 'weren't those popovers gooood?[ ha
