Reaching for the Moon
Directed by Edmund Goulding
Written by Edmund Goulding and Elsie Janis based on a story with music by Irving Berlin
1930/US
Feature Productions (A Joseph M. Schenck production)
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Fandor
Roger: There’s a vast difference, sir, between the art of making money and the art of making… a lady.
A peppy but routine Pre-Code romcom enlivened by its cast and luscious art deco settings and costumes.
A devil-may-care aviatrix (Bebe Daniels) bets her buddies that she can get the attention of a dashing financier (Douglas Fairbanks). When she does, he pursues her on her sea voyage across the Atlantic. At first, the whole thing is a big joke to Bebe. With Edward Everett Horton as Fairbanks’ butler, Claud Allister as a British twit, and Bing Crosby, in his first solo performance on film, singing “When the Folks High Up Do the Mean Low-Down”.
I had mixed feelings about Fairbanks’ truly manic performance. He leaped about enough for a couple of swashbucklers. However, I found Bebe Daniels totally captivating. I never knew why she got top billing in “42nd Street” and now I do. It’s too bad she married and moved to England before her career solidified. However, the real reason to watch this movie is to see William Cameron Menzies art deco set designs. They are absolutely gorgeous. I need Fairbanks’ bed! The costumes are good too.
