''Sitting on the Moon'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by

Ralph Staub Ralph Staub (July 21, 1899 in Chicago, Illinois – October 22, 1969, Los Angeles, California) was a movie director, writer and producer. Three of his short subjects in the ''Screen Snapshots'' series have been nominated for the Academy Award an ...

and released by Republic Pictures.

Plot

Songwriter Danny West wakes up with an unknown woman in a taxi outside the film studio Regent Pictures Inc. where he works. He remembers little from the night before. The woman is still asleep and Danny asks the driver to drop her off where they picked her up. Danny and songwriting colleague Mike are tasked with delivering a song to studio executive Tucker. Actress Polly Blair once walked out on Tucker, and now he won't even hire her for the chorus. Polly's friend Mattie offers moral support. Danny recognize Polly from when she chose his and Mike's song "Who Am I" for her movie "Fugitive Princess". The song became a hit and was Danny's big break. Danny writes the song "Sitting on the Moon" for Polly and she performs it with Charlie Lane and his ensemble. Right before Danny and Polly's engagement party, Danny and Mike are fired from the film studio. Charlie has signed with a broadcaster from New York and wants Polly to come along, but she turns down the offer because she wants to stay with Danny. The woman from the taxi, Blossom, shows up at the party and says that she and Danny got married that night. She leaves, and soon thereafter a heartbroken Polly and Mattie leaves too. Blossom relays to Danny that she'll accept a divorce in exchange for $10,000 in cash. Mike invites Danny to come along to New York, but Danny declines. Polly is successful on New York radio's "Happy Go Lucky Hour" and creates record sales. Mike finds out that Charlie, who signed Polly to him, is making $3,500 but only paying Polly $100. Danny travels to New York, hits Charlie, and Charlie raises Polly's salary to $1,000 a week. Polly is excited to hear that Danny is in town. Frank sends Danny a newspaper clip of Blossom reading she has "eleven husbands" in a racketeering run with the taxi driver. Against the show owner's expressed wishes, Polly interrupts her live show to sing "Lost in My Dreams", which Danny wrote for her. Charlie refuses to conduct and walks out, and Polly starts singing a cappella. Three musicians hired by Danny joins her, and then the ensemble follows. The show owner invites Polly to stay on the show and offers Danny to write songs for her.

Cast

Roger Pryor Roger Atkinson Pryor (July 19, 1828 – March 14, 1919) was a Virginian newspaper editor and politician who became known for his fiery oratory in favor of secession; he was elected both to national and Confederate office, and served as a gen ...

as Danny West *

Grace Bradley Grace Bradley (September 21, 1913 – September 21, 2010) was an American film actress who was active in Hollywood during the 1930s. Early life Bradley was born in Brooklyn and was an only child. As a child, she took piano lessons and, by the ...

as Polly Blair * William Newell as Mike * Pert Kelton as Mattie *

Henry Kolker Joseph Henry Kolker (November 13, 1874 ome sources 1870– July 15, 1947) was an American stage and film actor and director. Early years Kolker was born in Quincy, Illinois. Career Kolker, like fellow actors Richard Bennett and Robert Wa ...

as Worthington *

Henry Wadsworth Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include "Paul Revere's Ride", ''The Song of Hiawatha'', and ''Evangeline''. He was the first American to completely transl ...

as Charlie Lane *

Joyce Compton Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Biography Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Golden Compton. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not ...

as Blossom Dawn * Pierre Watkin as Tucker *

William Janney William Janney (born Russell Dixon Janney, February 15, 1908 – December 22, 1992) was an American actor who appeared in 39 films between 1929 and 1937. He was the son of author and theatrical producer Russell Janney,(28 December 1940)William J ...

as Young Husband *

June Martel June Martel (born Martha Irene Greif; November 19, 1909 – November 23, 1978) was a singer and a stage and motion picture actress from Chicago, Illinois. She was a petite brunette. Singer and actress Her career began as a singer in Atlan ...

as Young Wife *

The Theodores ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

as Themselves (singing group) *Jimmy Ray as Feature Dancer * Harvey Clark as Hotel Manager * George Cooper as Jim Daggett, Taxi Driver

Soundtrack

- "Sitting on the Moon" (written by Sidney D. Mitchell and

Sam H. Stept Samuel Howard Stept (aka Sammy Stept; 18 September 1897 – 1 December 1964) was an American songwriter who wrote for Broadway, Hollywood and the big bands. He became known simply as Sam Stept or Sam H. Stept – he rarely used his full middle n ...

) *

with orchestra - "Sitting on the Moon" * Roger Pryor - "Lost in My Dreams" (written by Sidney D. Mitchell and Sam H. Stept) * Roger Pryor - "How Am I Doin' With You" (written by Sidney D. Mitchell and Sam H. Stept) * Grace Bradley, with Roger Pryor on piano - "Who Am I?" (written by Sidney D. Mitchell and Sam H. Stept) * Roger Pryor - "Theme from Tannhauser" (performed as a rag) (music by Richard Wagner)

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sitting On The Moon 1936 films 1936 musical films American black-and-white films American musical films Films directed by Ralph Staub Republic Pictures films Films produced by Nat Levine 1930s English-language films 1930s American films