We are talking about BLUE MOON

When we think old american music, we think Rogers and Hart (Blue Moon [1934], The Lady is a Tramp [1937]). Or we also might think old american musicals by Rogers and Hammerstein (Oklahoma [1943], Sound of Music [1959]). Well, the “Rogers” in both these scenarios is the same, Richard Rogers (1902–1979).

So, what happened to little Lorenz Hart (1895–1943) when Rogers started working with Hammerstein – BLUE MOON is the imagined account of what it might have been like for Hart on opening night of Oklahoma back on the 31st March, 1943.

BLUE MOON is a very talky movie,

and it all happens in one location on one night. At first this might seem a bit dull, but the conversation and thought that is within the screenplay really brings through the emotional depth and turmoil that the highly grammatically intelligent Hart might be processing. Hart was a talented lyricist, working with words, so this film echoes that fact with its conversations.

Ethan Hawke is at his absolute finest as Lorenz Hart, in fact I completely forgot it was Hawke as he takes on this big persona in a little person just crying out to be noticed again. If you know anything about Hart’s story you will see it is all represented somewhere in this film.

Nominated for Golden Globe and Oscar awards this year, come on down to Gawler to see BLUE MOON and some of the best story telling cinema has to offer.