NOR THE MOON BY NIGHT
UK, 1958, 84 minutes, Colour.
Michael Craig, Belinda Lee, Patrick Mc Goohan.
Directed by Ken Annakin.
Nor the Moon by Night comes from the Psalm which says that the sun shall not hurt us by day, nor the moon by night. It is a '50s Mills and Boon-style adventure/romance set in Africa. Belinda Lee, in her short career, made a number of British films grooming her to be a leading lady. Here she is teamed with Michael Craig, a popular lead at the time, and Patrick Mc Goohan at the beginning of his long career. African scenery is very attractive.
Direction is by Ken Annakin who had made some British comedies like Miranda and some of the Huggett films, then moved to Disney adventures like The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy and actioners like The Planter's Wife and The Seekers. Soon he was to make The Swiss Family Robinson for Disney and move into bigger budget films in the '60s, including The Longest Day and The Battle of the Bulge.
1. Popular romantic adventure? Popular romantic style? African settings and issues?
2. Africa and its beauty, the animals, the national park, life in the national park, administration and conservation? The musical score, the theme song?
3. The title and the Psalm reference? The familiarity and predictability of the plot?
4. Andrew and his work: his investigation of the Pole and his farm, dealings with the Africans? His teamwork? Relationship with Rusty? The correspondence with Alice? Thea and her devotion? The build-up to Alice's arrival, his work, the injury, recovery? The truth? His happiness with Thea?
5. The contrast with Rusty: tougher, background of the divorce, work, meeting Alice, the growing relationship, helping her, romantic ending?
6. Alice and the care of her mother, her sister and suspicions and accusations, her mother's death, her sister interfering with the letters, love for Andrew by correspondence, the arrival, her skills in nursing immediately put to work, helping, meeting Andrew, the relationship with Rusty, liking Africa, confrontation with Thea and the truth?
7. Thea and her parents, love for Andrew, young, the melodrama with Andrew, the lion, her mother and father?
8. The Pole and his dealings with the Africans, pet lion, magic dealings, the death by the lion? His wife and his hardness on her?
9. The background of the African tribes, their way of life, magic and rituals,, the magic with the lion?
10. Popular British Empire themes? Popular colourful romance?
