The Moon-Spinners (Disney) (1964)

Walt Disney Introduces Young Briton, Peter McEnery, to U.S. Audiences Walt Disney unveils a gifted British actor for American movie-goers in his latest feature, “The Moon-Spinners.” He is Peter McEnery, the latest in a long line of Disney discoveries. As a Disney find, McEnery joins some illustrious company — Hayley Mills, Annette, Tom Tryon, Fess Parker, Dany Saval, Marta Kristen, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, and TV’s Tim Considine. Impressive company for an impressive young man. After graduating from Hove College in England, he studied music and drama for a year. In 1956 McEnery got an inauspicious start as a summer-stock stage hand and later was fired from his first job as an understudy. But acting got into his blood. It was bit parts at first, and between acting jobs he worked in his father’s gift shop to make ends meet. The English public took note of the handsome actor when he landed the lead role in “Flowering Cherry” for a touring company. TV appearances came next, followed by his first movie, “Victim,” and then a part in “Tunes of Glory.” He returned to the legitimate stage in “Five Finger Exercise” and contracted with the Royal Shakespearean Company for roles in “Richard III,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “As You Like It” and “Hamlet.” By 1962 he was established as one of Britain’s most popular PETER McENERY young thespians, and won acclaim in London’s West End in “Next Time I'll Sing to You.” In “The Moon-Spinners,” his first major film role, he portrays Mark Camford, a man endangering his life to clear himself of a charge of theft. In color by Technicolor, “The Moon-Spinners” stars Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, McEnery, Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas. Also, Pola Negri returns to the screen. Bill Anderson co-produced with Walt Disney, and Hugh Attwooll was associate producer. James Neilson directed the Buena Vista release. Sheila Hancock Brings Talent and Looks to ‘Moon-Spinners’ Role Besides being a blue-eyed, blonde knockout, Sheila Hancock is one of England’s finest all-around actresses. Currently co-starring with Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, Pola Negri, Joan Greenwood and Peter McEnery in Walt Disney’s suspense mystery, “The Moon-Spinners,” Miss Hancock was named the best stage actress of 1963 by the Variety Club of Great Britain for her nearly 400 performances in “Rattle of a Simple Man” at London’s Garrick. For Disney, Sheila plays the difficult role of a society woman who is disillusioned with her way of life and takes her solace in the bottle. Better known as a comedienne, she alternates between television, motion pictures and the stage, mostly in her native England. Attracted by the theatre at an early age, she won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1952. Sheila earned pocket money serving in a soda fountain and doing odd jobs at a nearby circus. During summer vacations, she worked as the assistant manager of the Bromley Theatre. After graduation, Sheila toured with a number of repertory companies throughout England, then joined English comedian Cyril Fletcher’s Variety show. Next she toured in two plays, “Tons of Money” and “Breath of Mat MS-2J Spring,” then two musical revues, “One to Another,” and “Make Me An Offer.” Her number in the latter, “It’s Sort of Romantic,” stopped the show on the first night. Sheila starred at London’s Duke of York Theatre in “One Over the Hight” in 1961, and made her film debut in Norman Wisdom’s comedy, “Girl on the Boat,” the same year. Recently, she starred with Albert Finney and Susan Hampshire in “Night Must Fall.” In color by Technicolor, “The Moon-Spinners” stars Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, Peter McEnery, Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas. Also, Pola Negri returns to the screen. Bill Anderson co-produced with Walt Disney, and Hugh Attwooll was associate producer. James Neilson directed the Buena Vista release. CAT AND MOUSE — Peter McEnery and Hayley Mills are openly suspicious of Sheila Hancock and John LeMesurier in Walt Disney's “The Moon-Spinners.”’ The suspense mystery, in Technicolor, revolves around the disappearance of some fabulous jewelry. Buena Vista releases. ‘MOON-SPINNERS’ JOINS LONG LIST OF DISNEY ‘FIRSTS’ Noted for his variety both in cartoon and live-action production, Walt Disney adds another facet to his product in “The Moon-Spinners,” when he delves into a mystery suspenser with Hayley Mills, Peter McEnery, and Eli Wallach turning in some of the year’s most stirring scenes. From the time he made animated cartoons popular, Walt has scored triumphs in a series of Disney “firsts.” His first color cartoon was a smash, and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” first feature-length cartoon, is still a favorite. He won an Academy Award for his first True-Life Adventure, “Seal Island,” and wowed the world with another milestone, his epic underwater adventure, ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” The latest first for the Burbank producer, “The Moon-Spinners” is a high-budget adaptation of Mary Stewart’s best-selling novel. It was filmed on the Isle of Crete where ancient superstitions haunt the ruins of a by-gone civilization, and natives still celebrate mythological gods that once seemed to control the destiny of Man. Danger is the keynote as a young man and a spunky teen-age girl, played by Peter McEnery and Hayley Mills, are pursued by a would-be killer, Eli Wallach, through the rocky crags and archaic temples of Crete. In color by Technicolor, ‘The Moon-Spinners” stars Miss Mills, Wallach, McEnery, Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas. Also, Pola Negri returns to the screen. Bill Anderson co-produced with Walt Disney, and Hugh Attwooll was associate producer. James Neilson directed the Buena Vista release. The ‘Moon-Spinners’ Villain Rates High On Sheer Ferocity Not since “Treasure Island” has Walt Disney put so sinister a character on the screen as the murderous Stratos, played by Eli Wallach in “The Moon-Spinners,” a suspensethriller starring Hayley Mills. Long John Silver, the treacherous pirate, and Stratos have much in common. Both have the killer-instinct, a lust for money, and both employ the sea for their performance of evil deeds. The two scoundrels have their differences though. Long John lacked a leg and used an evepatch to cover his missing eye. Yet he had his cutlass, a large vessel, and a crew. Although physically whole, Stratos lacks the crew and sets sail for his treasure trove in a motorboat. As ruthless as Long John at his cutthroat best, Stratos uses a high-powered rifle with lethal facility. He stops at nothing in one of Disney’s most exciting live-action motion pictures to date. No stranger to villainous roles, Wallach is best known for his powerful performances in “Baby Doll,” “The Magnificent Seven’ and “How The West Was Won.” In “The Moon-Spinners” he will be seen complete with his own mustache. When location filming started on the Island of Crete, Eli needed to give the character of Stratos a trait he wanted. He felt that, without a moustache, the Stratos smile would not be wicked enough. In color by Technicolor, “The Moon-Spinners” stars Hayley Mills, Wallach, Peter McEnery, Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas. Also, Pola Negri returns to the screen. Bill Anderson co-produced with Walt Disney, and Hugh Attwooll was associate producer. James Neilson directed the Buena Vista release. Mat MS-2H ©1964 Walt Disney Productions ‘' Me Seer ree o Se oa nag Cee = MANHUNT — The hunted is Peter McEnery, who is trying to foil a gang of jewel thieves in Walt Disney's ‘The Moon-Spinners,"’ the hunters are Eli Wallach, the villain, and Paul Stassino. Hayley Mills stars in the Buena Vista releases. DISNEY’S ‘MOON-SPINNERS’ PACKS SUSPENSE INTO UPBEAT STORY (Prepared Review) When Walt Disney decides to do a suspenser in the whodunit field, he does it in spades, producing a happy, upbeat story packed with what you might expect, fast-moving family entertainment, starring Hayley Mills, in ‘““The Moon-Spinners,” a feature in color by Technicolor scheduled to open on .............. at the The setting is fabulous, ancient Crete. The twin motives are love and murder, with a strong story thread based on the search for ancient and therefore priceless jewels. Miss Mills, now a svelte 18 in her romantic role opposite newcomer Peter McEnery, turns in her usual brilliant performance, with a touch of liveliness that gives her a new, if not better, look in personality. Always bright and versatile, she has developed into an extremely attractive young lady. All of which is for the benefit of Disney audiences, and McEnery, a handsome 23-year-old from England whose previous two pictures, one with Hayley’s sister, Juliet, and another with her father, John Mills, set him up for a first-cabin introduction to the U.S. via Disney. McEnery plays the young, bonded bank messenger whose reputation has been marred through the theft of jewels entrusted to his care and who has come to Crete in pursuit of the loot and the thief. There he meets Hayley as a young lady on vacation with her aunt, a musicologist on a search of her own for a mysterious ballad called “The Moon-Spinners.” The aunt is excellently played by the fabulous Miss Joan Greenwood. Eli Wallach points up the dark, theatre. underside of the plot as the thief who does his utmost to kill McEnery, but makes the mistake of underestimating the young man and overestimating his horoscope. Wallach, much admired for his brilliance in movies and on Broadway, turns in one of his best, most sinister performances. Others who score well in the picture include pretty Sheila Hancock as a difficult inebriate; John LeMesurier as a crook posing as a British consul; Michael Davis as an engaging, fun-loving and friendly Cretan lad, and Paul Stassino as Eli Wallach’s evil accomplice. Pola Negri, star of the silent Twenties returned to movies after a twenty-year absence, turns in one of the picture’s most effective performances as the sleek, ultra-rich jewel collector who agrees to buy Wallach’s loot for a fortune. The photography, by Paul Beeson, adds greatly to the story by displaying the beauties of the island of Crete without taking away from the drama and suspense of the story. Bill Anderson co-produced “The Moon-Spinners” with Walt Disney. James Neilson in his fifth and most impressive directorial assignment for Disney, gave Michael Dyne’s screenplay added excitement, and just the right pace. Buena Vista releases. Walt Disney Brings Good Will to Crete Historically, the Aegean Isle of Crete has been the stamping ground for pillaging armies, but the latest invasion, by Walt Disney’s cast and crew for “The Moon-Spinners,” was rejuvenating instead of ravaging. The Disney onslaught of good will began with the restoration of little Elounda and lives on in the heart of this seaside town. The war-torn village was refurbished from cellar to dome and received, courtesy of Walt, a new hotel and church as well as additional roads and communication facilities. With the influx of technicians came business to fill the local coffers. Disney was careful to spread the benefits throughout the territory. For example, when buying gasoline for his jeep he divided a tank’s worth between the four stations in that part of the island. Then came the stars, Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, and others. The Cretans will remember with delight watching their neighbors stage a traditional wedding and a rip-roaring festival with some of Hollywood’s finest actors as part of the Disney suspense drama. In color by Technicolor, “The Moon-Spinners” stars Hayley Mills, Eli Wallach, Peter McEnery, Joan Greenwood and Irene Papas. Also, Pola Negri returns to the screen. Mat MS-1H WHEN ON CRETE, travel as the Cretans do, and that’s what Hayley Mills does in Walt Disney's Technicolor suspense-mystery, ‘The Moon-Spinners."’ Peter McEnery and Eli Wallach also star in the Buena Vista release. Page 7