The Moon-Spinners
Tags: suspenseful, murder

Plot synopsis:
Nicky Ferris and her aunt Frances are traveling on a bus to Crete. When they arrive at their hotel, the Moon Spinners, a village wedding is in progress. The proprietress, Sophia, did not receive the telegram Nicky sent to reserve a room. She says there are no rooms available. Nicky and Frances are exhausted and after Sophia's teenage son Alexis intervenes, she reluctantly gives them a room for the night. But her brother Stratos is furious. Since his return from England he has been acting strangely. He does not want guests staying at the hotel but promises Sophia that soon they will have all the money they want. Sophia is very suspicious of his dealings with what she calls a strange Englishman.Nicky notices a young man in the crowd and learns he is also a guest. His name is Mark Camford and he is on holiday from England. He notices Stratos leaving and asks if he is going snorkeling in the Bay of Dolphins. This makes Stratos angry. Mark tells Nicky that he also likes to snorkel in the bay. They dance and enjoy the wedding festivities. Before saying goodnight, Mark asks Nicky to meet him the following day for a picnic.Instead of going to bed, Mark returns to the Bay of Dolphins to spy on Stratos, who is in a boat. He does not notice that he has been followed. A fight ensues and Mark is shot. He dives into the water and disappears. Stratos and the other man assume he has drowned. Later, Stratos goes to Mark's hotel room and takes all his belongings.The next morning, Nicky is puzzled when Mark doesn't show up for their picnic. Stratos tells her he checked out very early that morning. Not believing him, Nicky goes on a search. She finds Mark's shoe on the beach and traces him to a nearby church. He was shot in the arm but refuses to explain what is going on. Seeing that he needs medical treatment, Nicky covers him with her sweater and races back to the hotel, stopping first in Mark's room to bring him fresh clothing. But there is nothing there. She takes her aunt's traveling blanket and first aid kit, plus a bottle of brandy from the bar. Frances is listening to a group of native women singing and doesn't notice Nicky sneaking in and out.Once Mark is attended to, he orders Nicky to leave but he still won't explain why Stratos is after him. Back at the hotel, Frances reports the loss of her blanket and first aid kit. Stratos realizes that Nicky must have taken them for Mark, which means the young man is not dead after all. He encounters Nicky in the village and she tries to steer him away from the church. But he goes there, forcibly taking her with him, and finds her blood-stained sweater.As the day passes, Frances becomes worried when Nicky doesn't return. Stratos assures her that Nicky has probably gotten lost and will soon turn up. Alexis is riding his donkey near a windmill when he hears a cry for help. Stratos has tied Nicky to a post in the loft. Just then Mark turns up and they rescue her. But Stratos is not far behind and the pair set off for the next village to summon the police. On the way Mark tells Nicky his story. In London he worked at a bank but was fired after a client's jewels disappeared. He suspected Stratos, who fled the country soon after. Determined to clear his name, Mark followed him to Crete and the Bay of Dolphins. He is positive that the missing jewels are somewhere underwater.Sophia suspects that her brother is involved in Nicky's disappearance. Once again he threatens her and hints that something might happen to Alexis if she doesn't keep her mouth shut. Frances is frantic and Stratos makes a point of organizing a search party for Nicky.Stratos's friend catches up with Nicky and Mark. He is overpowered and knocked out, and now the pair have his shotgun. They decide to spend the night in some ruins. Stratos shows up but is spooked by the feral cats occupying the ruins. After a cursory search, he leaves.The next morning, Nicky and Mark are awakened by an elderly man who turns out to be John Gamble, the British counsel. His explanation for being there, to observe the ruins at daybreak, sounds rather fishy. But Mark's injury needs medical treatment, so they agree to accompany him to his home. His wife Cynthia is a nurse and will be able to help Mark. Gamble persuades them to leave the shotgun behind. By the time they reach the consulate, Nicky has told Gamble all about Stratos. Gamble assures them they will be safe there. He will send a car for Frances and arrange for them to be flown to a hospital in Athens.Cynthia takes them upstairs. Gamble goes into a room where Stratos is waiting. He is very angry at Stratos for bungling the operation and asks how he thought two British subjects could disappear without anyone noticing. Stratos mumbles a weak excuse but Gamble is through with him. He orders Stratos to return to the village and wait for further instructions.After a bath and some food, Nicky is feeling much better. Cynthia brings her a dress to wear until her aunt arrives with their luggage. But she fears Mark's injury will become infected. She gave him some medicine and he is sleeping. Nicky goes downstairs and by using Gamble's telescope, observes a yacht on the water. Gamble turns her attention to something else, obviously trying to distract her. When Nicky finally sees Mark, he is very suspicious of the Gambles. He tells Nicky that the jewels cannot be sold on the open market, so Stratos will try to find a private buyer. Madam Habib is a wealthy eccentric who travels on a luxurious yacht. She collects jewels and Stratos will likely approach her. Nicky thinks the yacht she saw might belong to Madam Habib, which turns out to be true.Mark believes that Cynthia has deliberately drugged him. He tries to get dressed but collapses. Frances arrives and Gamble sends them to the airport in a hearse, the only vehicle available because a street festival is going on. Frances is up front with the driver while Nicky and Mark are in the back. He is wearing street clothes under his pajamas and tells Nicky he is returning to the Bay of Dolphins. She follows him but can't keep up. He boards a bus and is gone.Nicky steals a boat and goes out to the yacht. She is taken on board and tells her story to Madam Habib, who is very suspicious of her. Meanwhile, Stratos and his accomplice retrieve the jewels from an underwater container in the Bay of Dolphins. They escape in their boat just as the police, accompanied by Mark, arrive.Madam Habib admits that she is expecting Stratos and forces Nicky to hide in a closet. Stratos arrives with the jewels, giving Madam Habib only a brief glance at them before demanding immediate payment. When she leaves to get the money, Nicky sneezes inside the closet. Stratos finds her and they struggle. Just then the police burst in and arrest Stratos. The jewels will be returned to their rightful owner and Mark's name is cleared.

Review: From Walt Disney, an overly-involved story of jewel thieves and a young girl swept away by intrigue while vacationing in Crete.
Also fabulous: the dizzying sequence where Mills escapes villainous Eli Wallach by jumping from a windmill (beautiful camera-work and direction).
Terrific Terry Gilkyson theme song, fine supporting work from Wallach, Joan Greenwood and young Peter McEnery, who gives Hayley her first screen kiss.
It's also one of my favorite Hayley Mills movies.
The story is a solid mystery with sympathetic characters, and Mills plays a feisty, strong young woman.
I love this movie and recommend it for anyone who likes a good mystery or Hayley Mills or Crete..
Engaging, suspenseful film; Disney's answer to Hitchcock.
Pretty good performances from Eli Wallach as the villian, Hayley Mills and Peter McEnery as the detectives/romantic leads, and Irene Papas as the villian's nervous sister, who dosen't have much to do but makes an impression.
Also, funny comic performances from Joan Greenwood as Mills' aunt and the appearence of Pola Negri, the silent screen star, as the jewel collector Madame Habib.
This was Disney's answer to Hitchcock, and also an apparent attempt to get his young star, Miss Mills, into more adult roles after four years of excellent but very "kiddie" films for the studio.
Unfortunately, she didn't get any more roles like this at Disney; her next and last was in "That Darn Cat!", a very enjoyable and funny film but still aimed more at kids.
She ended up having to leave the studio, do a nude scene in another film, and have an affair with an older man in order to become more adult in the eyes of the world.
Still, this was her starting point, and while Hitchcock could easily have topped this and any other suspense/mystery film, it's still fun to watch and suspenseful, never boring.
Hayley's charming in one of her first puppy-love roles; Joan Greenwood, of the delicious voice, is, as always, indispensable; and Pola Negri does some spirited scenery-chewing in a prominent cameo.
Perhaps that's a sop to help the kiddies follow the story, though, despite the Disney imprimatur, it's not really a little-kids' film.
The Moon-Spinners, which takes Hayley Mills to the island of Crete, is an exciting adventure story that's appropriate for children of all ages.
"Moon-Spinners" moves quickly into action and is definitely better than Mills' previous film, Summer Magic, because of its expansion and explanation of different characters' backgrounds.
If you like Hayley Mills' Disney films, you'll love The Moon-Spinners"..
The best Walt Disney movie I ever watched.
Its almost surprising that I liked this movie so much considering the fact that I have never enjoyed Hayley Mills' acting skills, but she was seriously great in this.
In some of her early films, such as 'Tiger Bay' or 'Whistle Down the Wind', Hayley Mills revealed herself to be one of Britain's most remarkable child actresses, but as an adult her films were generally unremarkable.
The light family films she made in her teenage years for Disney and others can be seen as marking a stage in her decline to the ordinary from the extraordinary.
The studios' determination to fit her into the role of Teenage Virgin Queen occupied a few years earlier by Sandra Dee might also have made it more difficult for the public to accept her as an adult woman.'The Moonspinners' is a typical offering from her Disney period.
Peter McEnery, as Mark, makes an uncharismatic leading man, and the principal baddies (Eli Wallach as suspicious, surly foreigner and John Le Mesurier as smooth but hypocritical English gentleman) are drawn straight from the Official Hollywood Scriptwriter's Guide to Stock Villainous Characters.
There is an amusing cameo from Sheila Hancock as Le Mesurier's alcoholic wife, but the best thing about the film is the presence of Hayley herself.
Hayley was, of course, considerably younger than Audrey and (in my view) less classically beautiful, but shared with her the ability to carry a film through charm and charisma.
'The Moonspinners' is not in the same league as Hayley's best films, but it is worth watching for a chance to see this fine young actress.
I enjoyed the story and the Hitchcock-like suspense in this film.
Amusing adventure comedy, beautiful Hayley Mills and enchanting music.
Constructed a little bit like an Hitchcock movie, where tension is building up slowly but surely and where many characters are not always what they seem to be, it is filled with memorable scenes (the escape from the windmill, for example) and good humor.
I feel the old Disney films are still the best.
As I know many of my students are not familiar with the old films, I showed it to my fifth-graders recently, and they loved it (and asked to see it again).
I first saw it when I was seven years old, so I developed my first crush on Haley Mills.
Yes the movie was very good and still would be good with another leading lady, but I am glad that Mr Disney found Haley Mills!.
No great shakes in terms of script or direction, but it does feature some pretty well-executed stunts, and an extremely winning performance by Hayley Mills.
The Moon Spinners, despite the tag line on IMDb, is not set on a SMALL Greek island, but a rather large one, Crete.
I watched this movie for the first time today, April 17th, 2006..43 years after it was released.I did so mainly because I first went to Crete in 1976, when it was quite undeveloped.
From the moment the alleged British consul played by John Le Mesurier makes an appearance the movie heads off into bizarre territory.
Polo Negri as the much-married Greek millionaire looks like a man in drag, and the last 45 minutes leaves one both bewildered and yawning.But what are astonishing are the stunts.
The motor-boat scenes look a bit hairy too, and I think there would be a lot more Health and Safety regulation now.(McEnery was already showing signs of what would become a considerable dramatic pedigree).But it was an enjoyable romp in parts, and early Sixties Crete looked marvellous and unspoilt.History buffs may recall that a savage battle was fought there in 1941 when German airborne forces wrested control of the island from British and New Zealand forces.
About 130 miles long at its longest point, I recall, and about 80 miles deep.Final note: As teenagers we were all in love with Hayley Mills - she seemed to epitomise the times, fresh-faced, innocent, naive.
I like her work and this Disney film has a certain draw that I enjoy.The setting (actually filmed there) is great and the music a nice backdrop.
You can read more on the plot from others, this is just my opinion overall.But, if you like Hayley in late Disney style, off the coast of Greece somewhere helping McEnery against jewel criminals,...
The Moon-Spinners is by far a classic movie for your video collection.
Classic Disney 60s fare , but not a very good movie....
It fits right in the groove with other Disney movies from that era like "That Darn Cat" and "The Love Bug".
The truly shining moments of the film come only near the end in scenes involving former silent-movie-legend Pola Negri in her final film role.
If you're looking for a "good movie", one with a solid plot and uniformly good acting and directing, then pass on The Moon-Spinners.
But if you want to conjure warm memories of a classic-Disney childhood, and you want to see the last glimpse of the amazing Pola Negri, then definitely watch this film..
No, the acting wasn't the best, the plot has holes, and it is a saccharine Disney movie.
That is my measurement of "pure entertainment." At the first showing I fell deeply in love with Peter McEnery - as only a 14-year-old could do.
The other reviews say pretty much what else I would like to say about the movie.
At the time I wanted to be Haley Mills, I wanted to go to Crete to see the windmills and dance with the locals and hear them sing.
The "moon-spinners" from '64, is latter-day Disney fare, so there's a surprising amount of bite to the story, for a Hayley Mills film.
Hayley, who never looked more lovely, plays young Nikki Ferris, on vacation with her Aunt on Crete.
Hayley is soon mixed up with compatriot Mark Camford and they become embroiled in jewel theft and attempted murder.The film does drag a bit at times, but you can always look at Mayley, a windmill stunt is fun and Eli Wallach has a juicy part as the villainous Stratos.
Some characters introduced very late in the story don't quite make sense, still its an exciting mystery and one does want to see how it turns out.The "Moon-Spinners" is a good family film.
Recommended for fans of Disney live-action and Hayley Mills..
Haley Mills was already the Walt Disney queen and Peter McEnery's talent attributed to the greatness of the film.
It's like the only CLEAN channel on) and I saw Hayley Mills in what looked like an old very beaten church with tombs everywhere.
No one can "film a book." For one thing, they won't fit.
His movies, even the ones he produced at arm's length, like The Moon-Spinners, were always "Disney" movies first and foremost.
and you knew he'd be a wonderful creation in his own right.Though it fits well with Disney's other UK-produced works (Greyfriars Bobby, Emil and the Detectives, Darby O'Gill, etc.) The Moon-Spinners is still very much a Disney movie.
Only the most anorexia-fixated American viewer could fail to find her a vision of beauty in this film.)The story line is slim, to be sure, but actually quite robust by Disney standards.
It is the best of Mills' Disney films and certainly more captivating and suspenseful than their other collaborations.
I would recommend watching the movie before reading the book, otherwise you will be very disappointed..
While I was a great Hayley Mills fan during that era, I found this dumbed down Disney adaptation of Mary Stewart's engrossing novel disappointing.
The story revolves around a young girl, Nikki Ferris, who travels with her aunt to the Greek island of Crete.
While there, Nikki and a handsome young love interest named Mark become involved in unearthing a case of jewel theft and murder, all in connection with the hotel's surly, unwelcoming owner and her villainous brother, Stratos.My complaints are numerous.
Hayley Mills, much as I like this actress, just seemed totally wrong for the role.
Really, the entire plot of this Disney flick deviates so much from the novel that most of the time, I would hardly have recognized it.However, there is lovely Greek scenery and it's undoubtedly an entertaining film for those who haven't read the book.
Hayley gets her first screen kiss here from Peter McEnery who portrays Mark.
Also, I'd definitely recommend this movie for viewing by young people, as it's a whole lot more inspiring than most of what's out there these days.
The only recommendation I would ever give this film is to watch it for the appearance of silent-screen legend; Pola Negri.
Back in the early 1960's - Hayley Mills was easily recognizable as one of the most idealized movie-teens of that era.
The Moon-Spinners was definitely one of Mills' better films.Released in 1964 - The Moon-Spinners was intended to be Disney's attempt at some "Hitchcock"-like intrigue, with a touch of sugar-coated comedy and romance thrown in for good measure.The Moon-Spinners may be just light-weight drama to most, but, all the same, it is thoroughly enjoyable movie-entertainment for all ages.As an added bonus - Silent-Screen star, Pola Negri appeared in this flick as the wicked villainess, Madame Habib.
Although she would soon be leaving Disney Studios Hayley Mills at the age of 18 got a chance at a semi-adult role with a semi-adult romance with young Peter McEnery in The Moon-Spinners.
The film is worth a look if for no other reason than the great location cinematography on the Island of Crete.Mills and her aunt Joan Greenwood are on holiday in Crete and they arrive at the small inn that they were supposed to be staying and the owner, Irene Papas is decidedly cool and has to be forced to provide Mills and Greenwood with accommodations.
He's got his own plans for the jewels.McEnery and Mills make a fine attractive young couple and Eli Wallach as the villain is at his best.
And the chance to see three legends of varying degree as Irene Papas, Joan Greenwood, and silent star Pola Negri in a comeback role is not to be missed.The Moon-Spinners plays a like a Nancy Drew mystery and I wonder why Disney never cast Hayley Mills as the teen sleuth.
If you're looking for a great quality film then this isn't the one, but if you're looking for a fun family movie appropriate for all ages then this is it.
It's a mystery/adventure/romance that epitomizes all cheesy films of the time.
The scenes with Hayley Mills trapped in the rat infested windmill gave me nightmares for weeks.The fact that American parents were all up in arms over innocently sexy European movies while taking their kids to see sadistic Disney films like this one clearly shows the generation gap.Hayley Mills was an icon of the era and admittedly was always shown in more realistic child roles rather than the more phony MARY POPPINS type kids.A fine film but not necessarily for the kiddies..
It is also a fairly dark tale of murder and vengeance.Unfortunately, with Hayley Mills as the principal character, the film becomes a pretty-pretty story of a teenage romance with a few rather obviously sinister 'baddies' thrown in.
John le Mesurier is simply wasted - his character's role in the book is pivotal, whereas in the film he appears towards the end almost as an afterthought.
Hayley didn't fit in this film very well.
Seems like a thrown together movie by Disney just to make money off of Hayley Mills name.
I finally got a copy and am sitting back to relive the two glorious years I spent in the enchanted isle where this was filmed.Hayley Mills was 18 years old at the time of her 7th film, and her career had pretty much run it's course by then.
She is still making movies, but she got her last of three Golden Globe nominations for the 1963 film Summer Magic .
Her last BAFTA nomination came in 1962.I really enjoyed Eli Wallach's performance.It was a goofy movie, but worth the wait.It is noteworthy that this was the last film for Pola Negri, who started her career in 1914..
I quite liked this film.
Being a "Hayley lover' I have seen it a few times.It was the kind of film that made her transition from child to young adult on the screen so smooth.It was partly filmed in Crete so there was some beautiful scenery.
The opening credits were filmed against the most beautiful sunset.Hayley plays Nikki Ferris, who along with her aunt (Joan Greenwood) happen to arrive on one of the islands during a wedding.
No-one (except the young boy) seem pleased to see them - they claim never to have received the telegram that Hayley sent.The plot concerns stolen jewels and Peter McEnerys' efforts to clear himself and expose the real thieves.It is and old fashioned adventure and there are some thrilling parts.
The first thing you notice is Hayley looks different.
She doesn't look like my Hayley.
Along comes Eli Wallach as Stratos in a warm up for his part as Tuco in 'The Good, The Bad And The Ugly' two years later.
He's in the church!" we cry in unison, but it is our Haze who is imprisoned in a windmill and has to be rescued by Mark's young Cretan friend (catch-phrase: "This is no time to make love") in a gob-smacking scene like Hitchcock on acid.
And a six year old Hayley Mills.
AND Hayley Mills is given alcohol and falls over drunk.This horrifying film will give me many a sleepless night.
To see ANY minor abused and corrupted in a film is bad enough, but Hayley Mills?
Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed this movie, though not as much as I did in 1964 when I was a freshly minted teenager, and a devotee of Mary Stewart's novels about plucky young women in exotic adventures.
But Hayley Mills was still too juvenile at 17 to portray Nicky Ferris.
She's a fledgling girl compared to the 23-year-old British stage actor Peter McEnery, who plays Mark Canford, her love interest.
The film was shot on Crete, where the story is set (as was the novel, which is rather eviscerated in this screenplay).
Typical of Disney of this period, the sterling supporting cast is comprised of strong character actors, European actors, and Hollywood has-beens-- Eli Wallach as the bad guy, Irene Papas as his rightly censorious sister (far too little of that divine actress), Joan Greenwood as Hayley's aunt, John Le Meseurier as the British consul and the RADA actress Sheila Hancock as his wife, and the silent film siren Pola Negri in her final film role as a jewel-obsessed dowager with a yacht and a pet leopard.If the plot weren't so tedious, perhaps the sloppiness of the film wouldn't be so troublesome.
Nor do they have chemistry, not even in the famous kiss which is over with in a hurry, even though "Hayley's first screen kiss!" was marketed like "Garbo laughs!" To mature eyes, Nicky is an intelligent but heedless teenager, while Mark is a mature young man on a mission to clear his name (he was accused of jewel theft).
I did enjoy the movie-- Crete, the actors- - but oh!
I cannot believe I saw this movie on the list of Hayley Mills' best films!
Feels like the plot was written by a ten year old.