Spondonman
In this English Civil War action drama the one thing more incongruous during the opening sequence than Ronnie Hilton crooning a 1950's style ballad is the sight of George Baker in costume galloping about on horseback. Get over that and it's plane sailing and you can believe anything. Well I enjoyed it anyway, it shows an aspect of the Interregnum which has been relatively neglected, much like the film itself.It's the tale of Lord Protector Cromwell briefly played by John Le Mesurier and his army searching high and low for (prospective King) Charles Stuart, who is being protected by the Moonraker, a Loyalist Royalist played by the indefatigable Baker who is trying to get him safely to France. Was a time when brother was against brother over politics and religion, and rabidly too - in fact not like nowadays at all! Careless talk cost lives and no one was to be trusted, a rule not well adhered to in here though. Posh-speaking Baker falls gallantly in love with puritan Sylvia Sims; with the young and healthy as usual the rule is love conquers all. The production values and colour are excellent, the acting OK, the fight scenes bearable when not risible, the soundtrack music occasionally wobbles on the copy I've got but not too distracting and overall 'tis a very pleasant little tale well told, albeit on a low budget. Additionally there's a seemingly endless procession of British "faces" padding out the cast – Peter Arne, George Woodbridge, Marius Goring to name but a few.If possible though because much stamina is required of the viewer what I would really recommend is to first watch the much applauded 2013 British film A Field In England which also has the English Civil War as its backdrop and then compare it to this. The more artistic and worthy film should hopefully be obvious and put this earlier British effort firmly into context. This is (literally) escapist entertainment which admirably helps keep the real world at bay for ninety minutes.
ianlouisiana
George Baker is so handsome and beautifully spoken that it hardly matters if his acting isn't up to much - unlike Laurence Harvey,his contemporary, who was also handsome and beautifully spoken but whose lack of thespic talent I found extremely grating.Possibly because Mr Harvey had pretensions and Mr Baker was cheerfully light hearted and frivolous.As "The Moonraker" he is having fun,pure and simple.He is not in the least convincing as a 17th century peer and it doesn't matter,it's only a movie.And you should have seen it in 1958 when the screen was dazzled by Miss Sylvia Sims' blue eyes and Mr Paul Whitsun-Jones' bluff and cheery heroics.The bright colours,the echoing hoofbeats,the swordplay,the clifftops.what a feast for a 17 year old in those innocent days. The story-about the rescue of the young King Charles from Cromwell's troops-is not the point of this movie.It was a genuine English attempt to do a "Prince Valiant",if you like,a home made Hollywood epic on a far more modest scale,and,as such,it was a great success.With more familiar British actors than you could shake a stick at,it makes great TV for the 21st century - but you should have seen it in 1958.
CineTigers
"A Moonraker is a smuggler. One who dumps his contraband in the bottom of a lake then rakes it out by moonlight." (Definitely not to be confused with the James Bond escapade).I believe this film is now in the public domain as I saw it as an "afternoon matinée" on my local school cable channel, where I usually see titles from the $1 bin.While the movie was historically interesting, the action less enjoyable than Errol Flynn's Robin Hood and the staging and dialog delivery seemed slow and mechanical to me. If you are a fan of Elizabethan costume dramas, this will be a pleasant diversion for you.
noelcox
"The Moonraker" is an account of the escapades of a dedicated Cavalier gentleman, Anthony Earl of Dawlish, aka Mr Rice, pursued by Roundhead soldiers seeking King Charles II after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. George Baker, as Dawlish, brings to life a Scarlet Pimpernel type character, who skillfully manages to assume the identity of a puritan scholar whilst rescuing supporters of the late King's son from the army of Cromwell.This is a neglected film, which deserves more attention than it has received. Although in the second half it tends to restrict action to the environs of an inn, there is much to enjoy in the detail. The personal motivations of protagonists are also laid bare, and more than one is called to question their convictions.
AD
