Review of Man in the Moon, The

Introduction

Tell your troubles to the man in the moon.

A tale about growing up. Set in the American South in 1957, it is a time of change. There is Rock and Roll on the radio. Elvis has just started swivelling his hips dangerously. Dani loves Elvis, she loves swimming in the pond and the holidays are stretching out in front of her. One day a boy interrupts her swimming and everything changes. Court has just moved next-door and Dani is smitten. Soon Dani is taking down her Elvis posters and turning herself into her real girl. She wanders what it would be like to be kissed by a boy. With her Mom pregnant and her sister about to leave for college it`s time to grow up.

This film looks like it has been issued because it marks the debut of a young Reece Witherspoon playing the teenaged Dani. It also features Sam Waterstone currently appearing in `Law and Order`.

The Director, Robert Mulligan, has produced quite a few films the most famous of which are `To Kill a Mocking Bird` and `Summer of `42 `.

Video

With Freddie Francis as the cinematographer it is not a disappointing film visually, although most of the film takes place in two or three locations around the farm.
The print is in reasonable condition for its age and has been reproduced in Widescreen.
This is a budget range DVD and has not been enhanced.

Audio

The sound is very clear in the original Dolby 2.0 and there is a suitably matinee music soundtrack.

Features

A trailer-do not watch this before the film as it gives away much of the plot.

Conclusion

A real weepie and one for a night in, with a large glass of wine and an even larger hankie. Reece Witherspoon and her pouty little face already shows her potential as troubled teenager in future films. Not one for the boys this, a tale of teenage romance with only a hint of adult issues. It is charmingly done, mush.

Nothing much on the DVD as this has been produced in the budget range and should be available at around £10 if not less.