In my opinion, a top "B" musical from director Ralph Staub of all people. Admittedly, Roger Pryor is no more than an adequate hero, who knows his lines but has little charm, whereas his far more charismatic co-star, the super-charming Grace Bradley, is superb. William Newell also picks up the slack by providing some delightful, believable comedy as Pryor's sidekick. There are also some welcome elements in the screenplay that you don't usually find in a "B" picture, such as the antagonistic band-leader walking over to Grace to indicate that the super-positive audience reaction to her song called for an encore, and the man with the chair following director Pierre Watkin in a brief parody of Cecil B. DeMille's essential employee. 99% of audiences wouldn't get this gag at all, but there it is on screen for just a few seconds. Perhaps Staub himself improvised many of the clever show biz touches that raise this movie from the routine to the must-see level. In fact, I regard Sitting on the Moon as one of the best "B" musicals ever made! Available on an excellent Alpha DVD as a support (would you believe?) to Rhythm in the Clouds.
Review of Sitting on the Moon
