Moonlight and Pretzels

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Moonlight and Pretzels
Moonlight-and-Pretzels-(1933).jpg
Directed by Karl Freund
Written byMonte Brice
Jay Gorney
Sig Herzig
Arthur L. Jarrett
Produced by Stanley Bergerman
Monte Brice
William Rowland
Starring Leo Carrillo
Mary Brian
Roger Pryor
Herbert Rawlinson
CinematographyWilliam Miller
Edited byRobert Snody
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • August 1, 1933 (1933-08-01)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Moonlight and Pretzels is a 1933 American Pre-Code musical film directed by Karl Freund, about a man who puts on a Broadway show. The film was released by Universal Studios and featured Mary Brian and William Frawley, now best-known as "Fred Mertz" on the 1950s TV show I Love Lucy ; Freund was the groundbreaking cinematographer for I Love Lucy.

Contents

Plot

Cast

Production

The film was not produced in Hollywood, but was filmed at the Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens, New York City, primarily used by Paramount Pictures. [1] The dances were choreographed by Bobby Connolly. [2]

Lobby card for Moonlight and Pretzels Moonlight and Pretzels lobby card.JPG
Lobby card for Moonlight and Pretzels

Critical reception

A contemporary review in Variety reported that the film "moves along at a sprightly pace and has sufficient pep to hold interest," noting the film's "several nice tunes," "some good dance routines," and "a good looking line of girls." The review also notes "[o]n the negative side of the ledger are a pretty dull and routine story, practically no laughs and no actual cast stars." [3] A modern review of the film by Danny Reid notes that although it "was obviously made on a tight budget [...] and its numbers never escape feeling stage bound," it contains "a few undeniable charms that make it an enjoyable experience." [4]

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References

  1. "More Musicals". Brooklyn Eagle . June 11, 1933. p. 23. Retrieved June 6, 2020 via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Cinema: The New Pictures" . Time . August 21, 1933. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. "Variety (August 1933)". Internet Archive. Internet Archive. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  4. Reid, Danny. "Moonlight and Pretzels (1933)". pre-code.com. Danny Reid. Retrieved December 15, 2022.