SKY FULL OF MOON

US, 1953, 73 minutes, Black-and-white.
Carelton Carpenter, Jan Sterling, Keenan Wynn, Robert Burton, Elaine Stewart.
Directed by Norman Foster.

Sky Full of Moon is a slight comedy, and MGM supporting feature. It is set in Nevada, on ranches north of Tonopah, then in Las Vegas which looks surprisingly small, despite the casinos, in the 1950s. We see small gambling shops, the casinos, the outskirts of the city, the desert countryside on the roads to Utah, a rodeo.

The film is a star vehicle for young Carelton Carpenter, who sang Abba Dabba Honeymoon with Debbie Reynolds in To Weeks with Love and appeared in Fearless Fagan. The leading lady is Jan Sterling, usually seen as tough girl in dramas. Keenan Wynn is a storekeeper.

The film was directed by Norman Foster, a prolific television director, who began with six Mr Moto films as well as three Charlie Chan films.

1. Light MGM supporting feature? Life in the 1950s? Nevada, farms, Las Vegas, casinos?

2. The Nevada countryside, Las Vegas city, the streets, the casinos, the small shops, the edge of the city, countryside leading to Utah? The rodeo?

3. Harley’s story, an ‘aw-shucks’ story? Turning 21? Work on the farm?

4. The songs, the commentary on the action, on Harley as a farmer?

5. His ambitions, the old men in the store, his tone, his going to Las Vegas, wanting to enrol in the rodeo? Not having enough money? He is looking for jobs? Trying the slot machines? His lucky day? The customer observing and following him?

6. Dixie, a false name, wanting to be a dancer, losing her money in California, wanting to get home to Kansas? Friendship with Harley? The attraction? Going out with him, to all the casinos, all the winnings? Trying again and losing every time? His promise to pay her way home? Her old car?

7. Harley, his saddle, sleeping, getting work, not getting paid? Meeting up with Al and his advice? The device for fixing the slot machine, Harley trying to use it, the customer following, his dropping the device but winning the jackpot?

8. Dixie, in the car, and to Utah, their being stranded, her going with the money, the return, Al and Harley talking about honesty, the return? Dixie crossing the state line to Utah on the rickety bridge? Harley imagining that Dixie could be his wife and be happy living alone? Al not being able to imagine it?

9. Harley, his return, enrolment, participating in the ride, not winning, but happy and intending to return next year?