Touches You

That was an excellent one.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

This was written by Edmund Goulding, prolific writer and director, and songwriter Irving Berlin. Most of Berlins' songs were omitted from the final production and what remains is a tribute to the fertile mind of Goulding. The story is clever and interesting, and is nearly forgotten nowadays. It deserves a better fate. It stars two who were popular in the 20's and 30's and it is particularly interesting to witness the acting skills of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. Here, he has a comic/dramatic role as a business tycoon who has no time for women - until he meets Bebe Daniels, a society celeb who decides to 'infatuate' the invulnerable Fairbanks. The stars play well off each other and you may be surprised by the depth of Fairbanks' acting range. There are, alternately, scenes of comedy and romance, and all play very well with audiences of any era. The big surprise, as noted, is Fairbanks. This picture is not as bad as the website rating and may be the fact that it is dated and some aspects haven't aged well. Give it a try if it comes on old, reliable TCM again.

I didn't know they made movies about scoring back in the 30s. The Jeckel/Hyde effects of Edward Everett Horton's "spanish fly" brew are a hoot. I found this gem on a miss marked double feature Bing Crosy DVD at the dollar store. The DVD titled "Road to Hollywood"/"Sound of Laughter" did not contain the film "Sound of Laughter" but instead "Reaching for the Moon" This copy contained no opening or closing titles or credits, indeed the menu screen was just a still frame from the middle of the picture with the sole option of "Play". With "zip" for information, It took me some time just to Identify the title. There is a token appearance of Bing Crosby in the film to sing one song. Fairbanks, Horton and Bebe Daniels all sparkle in this Society film about a beautiful flirt and the wall-street tycoon she taunts.

Reaching for the Moon will never make anyone's list of top ten films, but it is valuable piece of Hollywood History because it contains one of Douglas Fairbanks's few sound films and it is the solo debut of Bing Crosby.Joe Schenck who was a partner of Fairbanks in United Artists got Irving Berlin to write an original score for this film and to do the screenplay. Fairbanks is a wizard of Wall Street who falls head over heels for aviatrix Bebe Daniels and chases after her on an ocean liner to England. Along for the ride is Edward Everett Horton who plays his butler/sidekick.During production it was decided to scrap Berlin's score with only one song remaining, When the Folks High Up Do a Mean Low Down. Bing Crosby sang a chorus of it and then passed it over to Bebe Daniels and bit player June McCloy. At the time of the filming Crosby was appearing at the Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles with his Rhythm Boy trio. Fairbanks was 48 when this was made and the athleticism that characterized his best silent films was a bit annoying here. But that's what his public expected of him. His role is the kind of part that Cary Grant could later play in his sleep.Bebe Daniels is pretty much forgotten today. But she was a beautiful woman and had a great singing voice. If people remember her at all it was as Dorothy Brock who breaks her ankle in 42 Street and allows Ruby Keeler to walk on stage a youngster and come back a star. Soon after 42nd Street, Daniels left the U.S. with her husband Ben Lyon for Great Britain where as expatriates they became very big stars there.Nothing fabulous about Reaching for the Moon, but it's a curiosity and a bit of history rolled in one.

This is a classic 1920's era Irving Berlin movie with some of the best costumes and most excellently produced 1920's dance scenes. Although the movie is only 62 minutes, there is so much fun, that you'll not want it to end! It seems that this movie lasts longer than the hour because it is so good!Here is a brief synopsis: It takes place right before the stock market crash. Doug is a tycoon. He is a dud when it comes to any affairs of the heart. A beautiful girl comes into his office to talk to him about a problem. Doug can't solve the problem, but falls head-over-heels in love with this girl. He hears she's going to Europe by boat and chases after her. She's headed to Europe to get married. He boards the ship also and chases after her on board. Meanwhile the market crashes and he is wiped out. During a big scene, she embarrasses him while her friends hide in a life boat while he confesses his love to her. There is a lot more to go before this movie sends!I won't tell you how it ends!ALSO: a young Edward Everet Horton plays a butler in this flick on board the ship. There's a very young crooner that makes a singing appearance on board!Those of you looking for a great play to put on at your college or high school should seek out the screenplay for this movie!Enjoy!