The Moon-Spinners

7/8/19641h 58m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Hayley's romantic, carefree holiday suddenly becomes an electrifying surprise in suspense! ~

Overview:

Young English girl Nikky and her aunt arrive at the Moon-Spinners, a hotel on Crete, to a less than enthusiastic welcome. The coolness of the owner is only out-done by the surliness of her brother Stratos, recently back from London. But then there is nice English lad Mark to make friends with, at least until Stratos and his pal take a shot at him one night. When Nikky helps him hide she finds the Greeks are after her too.

Director:

James Neilson

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$5,000,000.00

Revenue:

$3,500,000.00

Key words:

crete
teenage girl

Cast

Hayley Mills

~ as ~

Nikky Ferris

Eli Wallach

~ as ~

Stratos

Peter McEnery

~ as ~

Mark Camford

Joan Greenwood

~ as ~

Aunt Frances Ferris

Irene Papas

~ as ~

Sophia

Pola Negri

~ as ~

Madame Habib

John Le Mesurier

~ as ~

Anthony Gamble

Sheila Hancock

~ as ~

Cynthia Gamble

Paul Stassino

~ as ~

Lambis

André Morell

~ as ~

Yacht Captain

View full cast & crew

Reviews (2)

r96sk
Written 5 year(s) ago
7
Split feelings towards 'The Moon-Spinners', but overall I think it's fun enough.

I like the premise but didn't enjoy how it's done by the film, some of the key characters kinda pop out from nowhere to all of a sudden be big parts of the story. I do rate the feel of it all, it's shot well across some nice locations in Greece. The pacing is off though, the execution of the plot would've been better with a trim, quick run time.

Hayley Mills, in her penultimate Disney production, is a top actress no doubt, but her as Nikky doesn't really work - mostly due to how she's written, especially at the beginning where her and Frances (Joan Greenwood) come across pretty unlikeable - and I don't think it's intentional.

Eli Wallach (Stratos) and Peter McEnery (Mark) give the best performances, which is probably why I felt just about entertained by this as those two are integral together throughout. Satisfactory cast, just not greatly told by those behind the scenes.

This has cool moments and disappointing moments, to the point where it probably levels out to be classed as good.
Wuchak
Written 4 year(s) ago
7
Hayley Mills sleuthing on the island of Crete

An aunt and niece (Joan Greenwood & Hayley Mills) are traveling through remote areas of Crete whereupon they encounter the suspicious brother of the proprietress of an inhospitable coastal hotel (Eli Wallach). Intrigue ensues. Peter McEnery plays a young Brit the girl finds attractive while Pola Negri shows up in the last act.

"The Moon-Spinners" (1964) inserts Hayley Mills into an island adventure that works well because it’s relatively realistic, has superb locations/sets and a well-chosen cast (e.g. Wallach is perfect as the villain). It’s basically Hayley Mills meets “North by Northwest” (1959) and “The Day the Fish Came Out” (1967).

Hayley was 17 during shooting and blossoming into a winsome young woman.

The film runs 1 hour, 58 minutes, and was shot on Crete and Pinewood Studios, London.

GRADE: B+