The Moon's Our Home (1936)

The Moon's Our Home Poster

A writer and an actress meet and marry without really knowing each other--they are even unaware that both bride and groom are equally famous. During the honeymoon, all hell breaks loose as a comedic war of the sexes leads inevitably to love.

The Moon's Our Home: An Overview
"The Moon's Our Home" is a romantic comedy launched in 1936, featuring the dynamic pairing of Margaret Sullavan and Henry Fonda. Directed by William A. Seiter, the film checks out the tumultuous love between two contrasting personalities, both secretly living under public personalities. Anthony Amberton (played by Fonda) is a renowned experience novelist, composing under the pseudonym John Smith, while Mary Smith (played by Sullavan), masquerading as the well-known starlet Sarah Brown, browse love and identities in a pre-war American setting. This effervescent film is noted for its amusing movie script, engaging efficiencies, and comical take on popularity and secrecy.

Character Duality and Chance Encounter
The film establishes a lively yet incisive comment on celeb culture and identity by establishing the dual lives of its protagonists. Anthony Amberton, when not adventuring in the North Pole for his books, resides conveniently in New York as a reclusive character, opposite to his public image. Mary Smith, true to her pseudonym Sarah Brown, is a seriously well-known starlet with an intense personality on and off the stage, a contrast to the more personal life she seeks. These 2 characters, unbeknownst to one another's real personalities, discover each other in a snowy encounter in New England, which sets the stage for an unforeseeable romantic adventure.

The Spark of Romance
The preliminary conference between Amberton and Smith crackles with comedic appeal and antagonism, as they participate in a wonderfully funny battle of wits and egos. Despite their bickering, there's an apparent trigger that indicate a hidden tourist attraction. They find themselves inexplicably drawn towards each other, and a whirlwind romance ensues. Their love story evolves as they each try to negotiate this blossoming relationship while jealously securing their modify egos. The comedic tension occurs from discrepancies in between how they perceive each other and their public personas.

Problems and Climax
As with lots of romantic funnies of the period, "The Moon's Our Home" navigates a series of misconceptions and comedic circumstances. As the couple grows better, the complexities of their deceptive identities intensify, weaving a tighter entanglement of lies, half-truths, and cover-ups. The eventual discovery of their true identities towers above their romance, threatening to reverse the structures of their intensely private connection. Their relationship strikes a climactic point when the reality is exposed, requiring them to reconcile their love for each other with the public figures they each maintain for their careers.

Resolution and Themes
The movie's conclusion provides a rewarding resolution to the romantic entanglements. Amberton and Smith are required to challenge their true feelings for each other and weigh them against the facades they've constructed. Eventually, their desire to be together surmounts the challenges positioned by their covert identities. The emotional climax acts as a testament to the power of love over pretense.

The thematic core of the film explores the nature of identity, love, and the masks people use. "The Moon's Our Home" concerns the value of authenticity in relationships and the pressures of celebrity culture, which still resonate today. The movie finishes up these themes in a comical and light-hearted bundle, but below its humor, there lies an exploration of human vulnerability and the guts to expose one's true self to another.

In general, "The Moon's Our Home" stands out as a traditional example of 1930s romantic comedy-- captivating in its levity, efficiencies, and stylish execution, while engaging with ageless styles that continue to attract audiences.

Top Cast

  • Margaret Sullavan (small)
    Margaret Sullavan
    Cherry Chester / Sarah Brown
  • Henry Fonda (small)
    Henry Fonda
    Anthony Amberton / John Smith
  • Charles Butterworth (small)
    Charles Butterworth
    Horace Van Steedan
  • Beulah Bondi (small)
    Beulah Bondi
    Mrs. Boyce Medford
  • Henrietta Crosman (small)
    Henrietta Crosman
    Lucy Van Steedan
  • Walter Brennan (small)
    Walter Brennan
    Lem
  • Dorothy Stickney (small)
    Dorothy Stickney
    Hilda
  • Brandon Hurst (small)
    Brandon Hurst
    Babson
  • Lucien Littlefield (small)
    Lucien Littlefield
    Ogden Holbrook
  • Margaret Hamilton (small)
    Margaret Hamilton
    Mitty Simpson
  • Spencer Charters (small)
    Spencer Charters
    Abner Simpson