Moontide (1942)

My Review

“Moontide” is a film noir drama about a dock worker who is under suspicion of murder but still manages to get romantically involved with a woman he rescues from drowning. Director Archie Mayo (“Confirm or Deny” 1941) skillfully put together this engrossing and complex noir with crime drama and romantic elements mixed in. The well written screenplay was penned by John O’Hara, adapted from the 1940 novel of the same name by Willard Robertson.

The cast includes French actor Jean Gabin as the dock worker, Ida Lupino as his love interest, Thomas Michell as the antagonist, Claude Rains as the night watchman, Jerome Cowan as Dr. Brothers, Helene Reynolds as the woman on the boat, Ralph Byrd as Rev. Wilson, William Halligan as the bartender, Ralph Dunn as the policeman, Arthur Aylesworth as the murder victim, and Chester Gan, Victor Sen Yung, Robin Raymond, Arthur Hohl, John Kelly, and Tully Marshall as hangers-on.

“Moontide” was a flop at the box office for 20th Century Fox. It was nominated for one Oscar – Best Cinematography/Black-and-White (Charles G. Clarke) – reflecting the movie’s unusual atmospherics. Despite taking place at the San Pedro docks, this motion picture was filmed inside 20th Century Fox Studios in Century City in Los Angeles due to World War II security restrictions.