The greatest movie ever!

just watch it!

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Teased throughout his childhood after his father is executed for a murder, an angry young man goes on the run after killing one of his peers in self-defense in this melodrama with noir elements from Frank Borzage. The film opens well with atmospheric high camera angle nighttime shots as the main character is bullied and teased as a boy. There is also some great nightmarish imagery as his childhood memories every so often haunt him as an adult. Excellent as 'Moonrise' might look though, it is not an easy film to get through. Always moody and morose, Dane Clark is never actually likable as the emotionally distraught protagonist. The love triangle that he gets into never quite gels either since we are given little insight as to what his love interest sees in him. This in turn makes it a little hard to care what happens to the characters, which is a shame because the film taps into some intriguing psychological territory - guilt over the sin's of his father, forced to live in a community where being a killer is thought to be hereditary and then unsure of what to do when he actually kills a man, albeit by accident. It is all too easy to understand his decision to flee and his conflict about leaving his girl behind.

I viewed MOONRISE almost by accident on YouTube. As the movie unfolded I became drawn into the story and not only watched it to the end, but also viewed it several more times over the next few days, because the story and its characters had so grabbed my imagination. The gritty atmosphere and believable setting is convincingly brought to life on screen by the superb direction of Frank Borzage. Every character in this story is well acted and realistically portrayed. Stand out characters wonderfully brought to life are the wise all- knowing Mose (Rex Ingram); the "simple man" Sheriff Clem Otis (Allyn Joslyn), with big heart and deep understanding; the matriarch, conscience and good common sense of the Hawkins family, Grandma (Ethel Barrymore); and a sympathetic, realistic portrayal of mentally challenged deaf-mute Billy Scripture (Harry Morgan). Dane Clark, an excellent character actor I well remember from movies and TV of the 1950's, 60's and 70's, brilliantly brings troubled, tormented Danny Hawkins to life. The viewer feels Danny's inner turmoil in every subtle tightened fist, jaw clench, angry breath or glare by Dane Clark. Clark wisely underplays the drama of Danny's troubles, yet subtly keeps the inner turmoil simmering under the surface so that the viewer is constantly aware. What makes MOONRISE work, rise far above the pack, and the heart and soul of the movie, is the schoolteacher Gilly Johnson (Gail Russell). In Gilly, Gail Russell gives the audience a character they instinctively like and whose judgment the audience trusts. If Gilly sees value and worth in Danny, the audience trusts her and gives Danny another chance. Gail Russell is often described as a troubled, mediocre actress, I suspect by those who have seen very little of her work. The evidence of MOONRISE suggests Gail Russell is a very fine natural actress, with a clear star quality that makes her the center of any scene she is in, the eyes of the audience following her anytime she is on screen. As Gilly, Gail Russell creates some very touching and sweet moments: *in the ferris wheel at the fair, after Danny's story of hurt and pain as a young boy, she leans over and hugs him like a schoolteacher comforting an angry, confused, hurt little boy; *meeting Danny alone at the run-down mansion, Gilly creates a Civil War ballroom dance for her and Danny to attend; *Gilly defends and describes the real character of Danny to the Sheriff.When exploring old movies, most will be "OK, but nothing special", some will be "so bad as to forget", but at times a true gem will be uncovered. MOONRISE is such a gem. A gritty realistic tale, brilliantly directed, populated with memorable characters superbly brought to life by a superb cast. MOONRISE is a keeper, and a great story that will easily stand viewing again from time-to-time.

Frank Borzage was winding down his career when he made this item for Herbert J. Yates's Republic Picture. For Borzage this film is probably an afterthought, after all he made some great classic films like Three Comrades and The Mortal Storm for major studios like MGM and others. But what might be an afterthought for him, would be an acclaimed classic for most other directors.Moonrise is the story of a troubled young man played by Dane Clark who has been teased and bullied all his life because his father was hung for murder. A particular bully has been Lloyd Bridges who is the son of the town banker Harry Cheshire. What little we see of Bridges is that he's a real lout. At a social event Bridges starts again when they're outside and alone and in a fight where Bridges who is losing for the first time picks up a rock and goes after Clark who takes it away from him and kills Bridges with it. At first it's a missing person case and then its homicide when the body turns up. What to do for Clark who is not a criminal by nature. The rest of the film is a study of Clark and the troubled conscience he has.Moonrise has a frightening relevancy today when we are finally focusing on the issue of bullying. This film should be seen and seen again for the message it contains. Today the character played by Dane Clark as a teen might just be the perpetrator of a school massacre today.Gail Russell as the woman both Clark and Bridges were interested in and Ethel Barrymore as his grandmother are the ones who most influence Clark in the decision he must make. Such fine character players as Harry Morgan, Selena Royle, Clem Bevans, Rex Ingram are all in this film giving it a nice rural touch as it does take place in the rural South. Best of all is Allyn Joslin who plays a philosophical sheriff very much along the lines of Theodore Bikel in The Defiant Ones.This film could very well be Dane Clark's signature role in a career that never quite brought him superstardom. You'll not forget his performance and how so many emotions register on screen with a troubled soul.

Danny Hawkins (Dane Clark) is a very angry young man. His father was hung for murder and he was taunted about it for years by other children. Now he's in his 20s and angry. He accidentally kills a man during a fight over a girl they both love (Gail Russell). He gets scared and hides the body...but the guilt eats away at him.The first part of this is great. The direction is assured and there are some incredibly beautiful shots. It has an appropriately gloomy atmosphere and Clark is very good in his role. It all leads up to a truly incredible scene on a Ferris wheel...then the movie falls to pieces. It comes to a screeching halt with people talking again and again and AGAIN about the same subject. The acting, direction and cinematography remain good but the script just gets repetitious. So, all in all, it IS a good movie but drags towards the end. I can only give this a 5.