On Moonlight Bay

Roy Del Ruth's 1951 musical is adapted from Booth Tarkington's Penrod stories. The Winfield family move to a small town in Indiana. Marjorie, a tomboy, meets William from across the street, while her family expect her to behave like a young lady and learn to dance. It is among the first films pairing Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, who worked together several times afterwards. The songs are drawn from popular standards of the period; rather than commissioning new material the film uses known numbers, which strengthens its nostalgic tone. The conflict rests on William's ideas being unconventional for the time and on how they unsettle Marjorie's father. That conflict is kept light and the film never turns serious. Who it's for: those who love classic Hollywood musicals and Doris Day. Who it's not for: viewers looking for dramatic depth; the film stays gentle and predictable throughout.