Garden of the Moon (1938): Cast & Plot
Garden of the Moon is a 1938 romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley, starring John Payne as Don Vincente, Pat O'Brien and Eddie Marr. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Busby Berkeley
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Warner Bros. Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Garden of the Moon About?
The premise of Garden of the Moon without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Don Vincente fights to launch his career, and his band gets a break performing at the Garden of the Moon, the city’s premier swing venue broadcast live on the radio. Their rise is threatened by ruthless manager John Quinn, who will do anything to keep Vincente under control, while assistant Toni Blake falls for Vincente, escalating the power struggle.
Garden of the Moon Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- based on story
- nightclub musician
- personal feud
- hotel owner
- band musician
- reference to new york city
- nightclub owner
- reference to rudy vallee
- female publicist
- live radio broadcast
- brawl
- fake maharajah
+38 more Show fewer
- off key singing
- pocket watch
- con man
- press agent
- swing band singer
- hatcheck
- nightclub orchestra
- balloon drop
- feedback
- planted publicity
- fake out death scene
- pretending to die
- signing a contract
- ends with a kiss
- title appears in writing
- bus
- bus crash
- place name in title
- reference to the brooklyn bridge
- based on magazine story
- night
- band
- waiter
- revenge
- pickpocket
- los angeles california
- impersonation
- hollywood california
- hoax
- gunfire
- gossip columnist
- gangster
- fired from a job
- dancing
- coconut
- bandleader
- big band
- title spoken by character
Garden of the Moon Cast & Characters
John Payne leads the cast as Don Vincente, with Pat O'Brien as John Quinn and Eddie Marr as Thug Shooting at Quinn (uncredited). Directed by Busby Berkeley; 42 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Busby Berkeley
- John Payne as Don Vincente
-
Pat O'Brien as John Quinn - Eddie Marr as Thug Shooting at Quinn (uncredited)
- Margaret Lindsay as Toni Blake
Also Starring in Garden of the Moon
· 38 more- Curt Bois Maharajah of Sund
- Melville Cooper Maurice
- Jimmie Fidler Jimmie Fidler
- Granville Bates Angus McGillicuddy
- Jerry Colonna Musician
- Selmer Jackson Doctor (uncredited)
- Bert Moorhouse Reporter (uncredited)
- Stuart Holmes Night Club Patron (uncredited)
- Glen Cavender Graham - Waiter (uncredited)
- Ralph Dunn Fred - Hotel Detective (uncredited)
- John Ridgely Sound Control Engineer (uncredited)
- Jack Wise Night Club Patron on Dance Floor (uncredited)
- John J. Richardson Jones - Waiter Who is Fired (uncredited)
- Harry Seymour Sammy - Pianist (uncredited)
- Lew Harvey Mr. Brown - Fulton's Henchman (uncredited)
- Constantine Romanoff Man Cutting In at Dance (uncredited)
Show all 42 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Edward McWade Peter McGillicuddy
- Penny Singleton Miss Calder
- Charles Morton Mrs. Lornay's Escort (uncredited)
- Dick Purcell Rick Fulton
- Eddie Graham Night Club Patron on Dance Floor (uncredited)
- Nat Carr Joe - Food Store Owner (uncredited)
- Al Herman Workman Changing Marquee Name (uncredited)
- Mira McKinney Sarah - Champagne Customer (uncredited)
- Charles Marsh Photographer (uncredited)
- John Hiestand Nightclub Announcer (uncredited)
- James Nolan Sound Man with Microphone (uncredited)
- Larry Williams Trent
- Thomas Pogue Jonathan - Champagne Customer (uncredited)
- Ray Mayer Musician
- Edgar Edwards Chauncey - the Ape-Man (uncredited)
- Isabel Jeans Mrs. Lornay
- Johnnie Davis Slappy Harris
- Mabel Todd Mary Stanton
- Tony Romano Musician (uncredited)
- Harry Fox Photographer (uncredited)
- Bobby Sherwood Fidler's Announcer (uncredited)
- Joe Venuti Musician
Garden of the Moon Plot Summary
What happens in Garden of the Moon from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
When Rudy Vallee has an accident and cannot meet his engagement at the Garden of the Moon nightclub, Toni Blake, the club’s press agent, helps set a plan in motion that could shape the future of the venue and its charismatic bandleader Don Vincente John Payne. Toni, moving with quick wit and a practical sense of show business, convinces owner John Quinn Pat O’Brien to hire Don Vincente, a bright-eyed musician who has yet to hit the big stage. Don Vincente John Payne and his swing-powered band travel from New York to California, chasing a chance to prove themselves on a coast that loves lively rhythms and fresh faces.
Full summary
The whole story of Garden of the Moon, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Garden of the Moon?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the charismatic bandleader hired by Toni Blake to lead the club's orchestra?
Garden of the Moon Also Known As
Also known as “No Mundo da Lua”.
- Also known as
-
- No Mundo da Lua
Seen Garden of the Moon?
Movies Like Garden of the Moon
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Broadway Gondolier, Under the Cherry Moon and Music for Madame.
Garden of the Moon FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Garden of the Moon, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Garden of the Moon?
Garden of the Moon runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was Garden of the Moon released?
Garden of the Moon was released on September 22, 1938.
Who directed Garden of the Moon?
Garden of the Moon was directed by Busby Berkeley.
More films by Busby Berkeley Who is in the cast of Garden of the Moon?
Garden of the Moon stars John Payne as Don Vincente, Pat O'Brien as John Quinn and Eddie Marr as Thug Shooting at Quinn (uncredited), among 42 credited actors.
Does Garden of the Moon have a post-credit scene?
No. Garden of the Moon has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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