Moonrise (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]

Criterion's release of Frank Borzage's film MOONRISE is a wish come true. I discovered this film on VHS years ago and it has remained one of my favorites. Compared to many other Criterion releases it has limited bonus material but the two extras are outstanding. The printed essay by critic Philip Kemp is one of the best that I have ever read. The video conversation between author Herve Dumont and Peter Cowie is very insightful. Dumont wrote the one major book on Borzage and so his comments on the director and his films is very meaningful. After viewing the VHS copy I was intrigued to see how it compared to the novel by Theodore Strauss (I found a used copy here on Amazon). Liked the book and felt that the screenplay did justice to the novel. For years I had hoped for the film to have a DVD release. To be given the Criterion Blu-ray treatment was something I never thought would happen. This little known masterpiece by a very special director is a film worth discovering and reading and listening to the two extras on this disc will give you the needed background to fully appreciate this film. And may-be it will create a interest in viewers not familiar with Borzage's films to take a look at THE MORTAL STORM, STRANGE CARGO and his silent greats 7TH HEAVEN, STREET ANGEL and LUCKY STAR.

The Criterion production of "Moonrise" is a beautiful black-and-white restoration with perfect audio. Five stars for the transfer.The film, however, is one of those with which I can find no sympathy for the main character. The script seems to hold him blameless --- when he commits murder in anger, when he drives drunkenly and recklessly and almost kills himself and the three passengers in a borrowed car, when he manhandles the person closest to him who shows him nothing but sympathy, when he kicks Mose's innocent coon dog, and when he nearly strangles a helpless person for simply finding an incriminating piece of evidence. And for Gilly to fall in love with him and for the sheriff to show sympathy for him ... it's simply unbelievable. And we, the audience, are supposed to simply sweep all of his hateful crimes and misdemeanors under the rug and let him off of the hook because all of his anger stems from what his father did years ago? Just ridiculous.I must commend the director, Frank Borzage, however, for keeping the action going and keeping it interesting, in spite of a contrived script. This is probably the finest acting I've ever seen from the one-dimensional Gail Russell. And it is always a treat to watch the great Ethel Barrymore, even if she only appears in the final reel of the film.

Probably the best film ever made. I saw this some 20 years ago as a young man in college. Now seeing it again I see so much more. Film of amazing quality both in physical/technical beauty as well as moral/philosophical one. This blu ray from criterion is an exceptional transfer. I don't remember the 35 mm print being this great.

A little masterpiece from the B-movie studio Republic Pictures. Beautifully shot in black and white with Dane Clark in one of his best roles. Not to forget the beautiful and sensitive Gail Russell. Also terrific supporting roles for Ethel Barrymore and Rex Ingram. And finally a nice score by William Lava. The restored print by Criterion is a delight.A favorite movie of mine.

I recommend this movie to anyone who is a Gail Russell fan. As part of the Criterion series of restored&remastered films, it is easy to watch. It is in black&white but every scene is crystal clear, the audio is excellent. I have a VHS&a DVD format of this film. This Criterion version is like watching a whole new film

this is the stuff

Frank Borzage was classic Hollywood's most romantic filmmaker. Between 1927 and 1929 he made several highly successful movies with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. The best known of these was 7TH HEAVEN. The central theme of these films were poor couples redeemed by the power of love. However by the mid-1930s his redemptive romanticism was going out of style as the upscale, wise cracking screwball comedy became the norm for male-female relationships. In the space of 10 years he went from being one of the most highly regarded of directors to a journeyman for several studios whose movies came and went without notice.World War II came along and Film Noir was rapidly becoming the new genre of choice. Borzage absolutely despised it. The doomed protagonists, the femme fatales, and the downbeat endings went against his cinematic nature. By 1948 he found himself at Republic Pictures, the top name among the Poverty Row studios famous for Westerns and Serials. However studio head Herbert J. Yates was attempting to raise his studio's prestige by hiring big name directors. In addition to Borzage, he enlisted John Ford, Lewis Milestone, Fritz Lang, and Orson Welles to make the movies they wanted as long as they stayed on schedule and on budget.Set in a small Virginia town, MOONRISE is about a young man (Dane Clark) whose father had been hanged for murder when he was a child. Years later he accidentally kills the town bully (Lloyd Bridges) in self-defense and hides the body in a nearby swamp. He then tries to date a local schoolteacher (Gail Russell) but lives in fear of the body being discovered. His only real friend is an old black man (Rex Ingram) who lives in the swamp and raises coon dogs. He discovers the body but doesn't turn the young man in. After visiting his grandmother (Ethel Barrymore) and buoyed by her advice and the love of the teacher, he turns himself in to the sheriff.The first hour of the movie looks and feels like any other film noir being made at the time with dark, brooding photography and intense performances. In the last half hour though, Borzage asserts his personality and his philosophy so that MOONRISE ends on an upbeat and even triumphant note. Clark and Russell are fine as the romantic leads but its the supporting players who make the film memorable especially Ingram as the swamp dweller Mose and a young Harry Morgan as the deaf mute Billy. Lloyd Bridges is effectively nasty as the town bully while Ethel Barrymore makes the most of her one big scene.This Criterion release is up to their usual high standards. The transfer captures every detail of John L. Russell's stark cinematography (he would also do Orson Welles noir version of MACBETH right after this) while the soundtrack is clean and clear. As is always the case with any Criterion release, subtitles are included. There is also a foldout booklet with plenty of background information on the film and the director. As a final note, the title comes not from some atmospheric set piece but rather from a jitterbug dance tune that is played and sung early on in the movie. MOONRISE is a forgotten gem.