The Moon Is Blue (1953)
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- M/PG
- 1h 39min
- Comedy, Romance
- 08 Jul 1953 (USA)
- Movie
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.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| William Holden | ... |
Donald Gresham
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| David Niven | ... |
David Slater
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| Maggie McNamara | ... |
Patty O'Neill
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| Tom Tully | ... |
Michael O'Neill
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| Dawn Addams | ... |
Cynthia Slater
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| Fortunio Bonanova | ... |
Television Performer
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| Gregory Ratoff | ... |
Taxi Driver
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Johannes Heesters | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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| Hardy Krüger | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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| Johanna Matz | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Otto Preminger | ||
Written by
| F. Hugh Herbert | ... | (written for the screen by) |
| F. Hugh Herbert | ... | (stage play "The Moon Is Blue") |
Produced by
| F. Hugh Herbert | ... | producer |
| Otto Preminger | ... | producer |
Music by
| Herschel Burke Gilbert | ||
Cinematography by
| Ernest Laszlo | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Ronald Sinclair | ||
Editorial Department
| Otto Ludwig | ... | supervising editor |
Art Direction by
| Nicolai Remisoff | ||
Set Decoration by
| Edward G. Boyle | ||
Costume Design by
| Don Loper | ... | (clothes) |
Makeup Department
| Louis Phillipi | ... | makeup artist (as Louis Phillippi) |
| Lillian Shore | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| Henry S. Kesler | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Henry Weinberger | ... | assistant director |
| Gil Mandelik | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jack Solomon | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| David Commons | ... | special effects |
| Jack Rabin | ... | special effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Milton Gold | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Sylvia Fine | ... | song: lyric by |
| Herschel Burke Gilbert | ... | conductor |
| Ralph Marterie | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Joseph Mullendore | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Richard Aldrich | ... | presented on Broadway by |
| Julius Fleischmann | ... | presented on Broadway in association with |
| F. Hugh Herbert | ... | presenter |
| Richard Myers | ... | presented on Broadway by |
| Otto Preminger | ... | presenter / produced on Broadway by |
| Max Slater | ... | production assistant (as Maximilian Slater) |
| Robert H. Justman | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Otto Preminger | ... | voice (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1953) (United States) (theatrical) (as A United Artists Release)
- United Artists (1953) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1953) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1953) (Norway) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1954) (Argentina) (theatrical) (as Artistas Unidos)
- United Artists (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- CBS (1973) (United States) (tv) (network premiere)
- Magnetic Video (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- Cinquestelle TV (1992) (Italy) (tv)
- Mon Inter Comerz (2016) (Spain)
- Viacom (1973) (United States) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra (song: presentation by)
- U.S. Department of the Treasury (money photographed with permission of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Successful architect Don Gresham (William Holden) engages a young actress, Patty O'Neill (Maggie McNamara), in conversation on top of the Empire State Building, and she accepts his invitation to dinner. Dropping in at his apartment on the way, they decide to dine there as Patty announces herself an excellent cook. Don slips out to buy food, and Patty is briefly visited by his ex-fiancée, Cynthia Slater (Dawn Addams), and not too briefly, by Cynthia's father David (David Niven), a middle-aged, practiced charmer who, on her invitation, stays to dinner. A slight accident at the table occasions Patty to change her dress for Don's bathrobe. While Don is away placating the jealous Cynthia, David loses no time in offering Patty a proposal of marriage and a six hundred dollar gift. She accepts the latter and is surprised by Don in a grateful kiss to David. Don is still enraged with Patty when her father arrives, and, outraged to discover his daughter in a bachelor's apartment, knocks him senseless. Written by alfiehitchie |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Sensationally Funny -- Recommended for Adults. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $400,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | First mainstream Hollywood film to use the word "virgin," after a battle with the official and unofficial censors. Also the first use of "seduce" and "mistress" (as a sexual partner). The movie was banned from theaters in Boston for using these words. See more » |
| Goofs | After Donald (William Holden) goes out to meet Cynthia (Dawn Adams) Patty (Maggie McNamra) clears the meal things away and collapses the table but she never saw how it was put up. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Alternate-language version of Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach (1953). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The Moon Is Blue See more » |
| Quotes |
Donald Gresham:
Believe it or not, I am a full-fledged architect. Build you anything from a cathedral to a bomb shelter. Patty O'Neill: How much would a cathedral cost these days? A small one. See more » |