''His voice was magnificent, and no one sang like him. We had so much fun when we made films together, and our favorites were 'On Moonlight Bay' and 'By the Light of the Silvery Moon...'' - Doris Day on the passing of Gordon MacRae

"I seriously suffered at the age of 10 over Doris Day. I loved her in By the Light of the Silvery Moon. She looked so completely in love and had that wholesome quality." - Colin Firth

I did have a sleepless night over Doris Day when I was eight and By the Light of the Silvery Moon was on TV. She had that pure quality, but she always seemed within an inch of giving in to being absolutely, um, ah..." - Colin Firth

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David Butler

William Jacobs

Irving Elinson
Robert O’Brien      
Based on stories of Booth Tarkington

Doris Day   
Gordon MacRae
Leon Ames
Rosemary DeCamp
Billy Gray
Mary Wickes
Russell Arms
Maria Palmer
Howard Wendell
Walter 'PeeWee' Flannery

Ray Heindorf
Norman Luboff
Max Steiner
Murray Cutter



Wilfrid M. Cline 

Irene Morra    

Warner Brothers

March 26, 1953

101 Minutes

USA

English

$4,250,000

Finally, the sequel to MOONLIGHT BAY with the same cast (minus Jack Smith) and Doris’s last film with Gordon MacRae. Great turn of the century tunes in a soundtrack album that reached #3 in album sales, at the time cementing a title that Doris Day retains: Biggest Selling Female Album Artist of the 1950’s.

As a sequel, this film, too, is  based on the "Penrod" stories by Booth Tarkington. Penrod himself (played by Billy Gray) takes a back seat to the main plot, concerning the hot-and-cold romance between Doris Day and Gordon MacRae.

Gordon will not marry Doris until he is financially able to do so, which results in several breakups and reunions before the final clinch at the local ice rink. A subplot involves Penrod's suspicions that an attractive French actress (Maria Palmer) is not only romancing his father (Leon Ames), but is also an enemy spy!

Set shortly after the end of World War I, Silvery Moon takes full advantage of that era's popular songs. If you don't blink, you will catch a glimpse of Merv Griffin in the final scene (as the bandleader at a skating rink).

Movie Quotes

Father Winfield: [about his tomboy daughter getting married] Well, I feel like I'm losing a son.



Stella: [to the camera] Wesley is their second child. If he had been the first, there never would have been a second! Oh... You're probably wondering who I am. Well, don't be so nosy!



Father Winfield: [about Wesley's pet turkey] For the last time, that turkey does not belong in the house!

Wesley Winfield: Well, if he's good enough to be on the table, he's good enough to walk around it.




Marjorie Winfield: Bill, it's so difficult for me to ask you to understand, but... Why I can't possibly think of marrying you right now. And I can't tell you why.

Bill Sherman: What do you mean you can't tell me? Why, I'm almost your husband! At least, I thought I was.

Marjorie Winfield: You will be. Someday. But for now Bill, couldn't you please be sweet and understanding?

Bill Sherman: But I don't want to be sweet and understanding! I want to be a husband!

Marjorie Winfield: Bill...

Bill Sherman: It never entered my mind, Marjorie, that you ever had any doubt about your feelings towards me. But now everything's quite obvious. You're not even sure I'm the man you want to marry!




Songs

"By the Light of the Silvery Moon" - Sung by a chorus during the opening credits, Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Leon Ames, Rosemary DeCamp and others. Played often throughout the film.

"In My Merry Oldsmobile" - Played during the opening scene where Marjorie is under the car

"What's the Matter with Father" - Played after Marjorie runs up the stairs

"My Home Town Is a One Horse Town" - Sung by Gordon MacRae

"Minuet in G" - Played by Wesley on the piano

"Your Eyes Have Told Me So" - Sung by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae

"Bridal Chorus" - Played after Marjorie arrives home after argument with Bill

"Be My Little Baby Bumble Bee" - Sung by Russell Arms, Doris Day and Gordon MacRae

"Ain't We Got Fun" - Sung with substitute lyrics by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae

"Good Night, Ladies" - Played during the Fearless Flanagan sequence

"Wintermärchen" - Played during the Fearless Flanagan sequence

"La vie en rose" - Played during the scene where Winfield is discussing the lease with Renée La Rue

"Moonlight Bay" - Played during the scene with the watch and later sung by Leon Ames

"If You Were the Only Girl in the World" - Sung by Doris Day and Gordon MacRae

"Just One Girl" - Sung by Gordon MacRae

"King Chanticleer" - Sung by Doris Day

"I'll Forget You" - Sung by Doris Day



Trivia

"Selections from the film score were featured on a 'Doris Day (I)' 10-inch LP for Columbia which crested in third place on the 'Billboard" popular albums chart." - IMDB (Internet Movie Database)

"This film departs from "On Moonlight Bay" in three main ways. First, the film opens with Stella breaking the fourth wall, addressing the audience directly as she introduces the Winfield family. Second, the song and dance numbers are played like a traditional musical, while the original film incorporated the songs more organically within the story. Finally, the bespectacled music teacher, although the same basic character with the same mannerisms, has a different name and is played by a different actor, the only member of the cast who did not carry over from the original film." - IMDB (Internet Movie Database)

"Mary Wickes was paid $750 per week for 3 weeks work." - Mary Wickes: I know I've Seen That Face Before

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Movie/Song Clips