Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

A Major Disappointment

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The cast and the beautiful scenery make this movie so endearing. It is one of those I could see over and over. Doris Day is a cute tomboy is this movie, and is her pretty self. Gordon McCrae is the pleasant man with his strong singing voice. These two seem to shine out more than the others. Mary Wickes is her comical self as the comically unpleasant housekeeper. Billy Gray, who would later play in the popular TV series "Father Knows Best" was, here at an early teen-age stage the "young detective" in the family. Leon Ames, as he was in so many other movies, was a stereotype father, here by the name of George Winfield. The sweet and lovely Rosemary DeCamp was excellent in her role as the mother named Alice Winfield; Billy Gray and Doris Day play the children of the family. Gordon McCrae plays the part of the soldier returning from WWI who wants to marry the Winfield girl, though not until he's more financially settled. In this movie, the setting of which is a small town in northern Indiana in 1918, a play is going to be held by a French actress and her repertoire company, sponsored by the bank where George Winfield is an officer. In the play there is a line which, though not vulgar, is objectionable; the line in the script is taken from the script and George places it in his pocket. Then, he asks his boy to take his clothes to the cleaners, and while the boy is emptying the pockets finds the script. And it is done on the day of the Winfields' twentieth anniversary, of all times.(!) It is enough to say that this "starts the ball rolling." The final scene is at the local ice skating pond on a cold winter night by the light of the silvery moon. The movie is wholesome, has a very talented cast, and the Technicolor is beautiful. In many ways it is, I feel, one of Warner Brothers very best.

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is the natural follow-up to the 1951 film, "On Moonlight Bay." Warner Brothers must have known early that it had a hit on their hands with the first film, to have it end the way it did – begging for a sequel. And, thankfully, the whole troop from the first film could be cast again to pick up where life with the Winfield's left off. This second film has some more interesting situations that lend to the humor. The first involves thanksgiving dinner and private-eye Wesley's pet turkey, Gregory. The second involves a French actress, Renee LaRue (played by Maria Palmer), who's coming to town to put on a stage show. Another is a hilarious scene at the ice skating pond toward the end. Listen carefully for the announcer at the pond – that's the voice of Merv Griffin. Then there's the wedding of Marjorie (Doris Day) and Bill (Gordon MacRae) that one or the other of them puts off and then on again. That happens a few times in the movie. As in the first film, the cast is superb – each actor does a wonderful job. I think Leon Ames did a banner job in the personality changes of his role. And, I agree with other reviews that have noted Billy Gray's portrayal as Wesley. I like the way the script created situations of interest for him, and how he portrayed them. It brings back memories of how I too liked to play detective and private eye as a boy, and found other things of interest. Movies don't show those kinds of things anymore, but I see my grandkids with similar interests and pursuits. I suppose the hands-on, self-exploration interests of kids growing up – especially boys, is giving way today to the electronic information age and games of fantasy. Again, Doris Day and Gordon MacRae have some wonderful songs. They made four musicals together, and they were as perfectly matched as any couple of singers over the years. One other very good pairing for singing with Doris was Howard Keel in "Calamity Jane," the same year that this film was made.MacRae went on to star in more musicals, including two lavish Rodgers and Hammerstein films, "Oklahoma" in 1955 and "Carousel" in 1956. As musicals declined after the 1950s, MacRae did occasional movies and TV appearances. I saw and heard him sing the national anthem before a Midwest college football game in the early 1980s. Gordon MacRae died at age 64 of cancer of the mouth and jaw. This is another wonderful movie for the whole family. Life, culture, manners, pursuits and interests were quite different in those days. Most people didn't have housekeeper cooks though. But everyone could dream. And we today can enjoy the humor, romance and fun of those times long ago, that we get a taste of in "Silvery Moon."For a comic parting, here's an exchange in one scene about the turkey. George Winfield: "For the last time, that turkey does not belong in this house." Wesley: "Well, if he's good enough to be 'on' the table, he's good enough to walk around it."

I happen to be a fan of Doris Day's so I tend to watch anything of hers I can manage to snag on television or rent from the video store. When I saw this, I was not disappointed. It was cute, funny and some of the songs in the movie were great (like Be My Baby Bumblebee..haha). Gordon McRae, as always, has a wonderful voice and it was nice to see him paired up w/ Doris. Billy Gray as Welsey made me chuckle with the turkey scene..and Mary Wickes as Stella the housekeeper even threw in a few lines that made me chuckle as well. I love watching it any time of the year, but it happens to air around the holidays more..which actually appeals to me. It's nice to be able to relate to a movie especially when it is based around the same time of the year that you are experiencing at that moment. If you have a chance to see it, I would definitely recommend it.

I like this film. It was well done with Doris and Gordon in the lead as small time sweet hearts. I watch this every Christmas! It gets me in the mood for ice-skating! I love the songs. The plot involved a small town family and how the children think their father is having an affair with an actress. The father is the same father in Meet Me In St. Louis. JUST WATCH IT!!!