Basil Nestor The Moon-Spinners is classic Disney-style fare from the mid-60s. It fits right in the groove with other Disney movies from that era like "That Darn Cat" and "The Love Bug". Keep in mind that this stylistic resemblance may be seen as an advantage or a serious flaw. The story happens in Greece, on the island of Crete, though it's actually not very much about Greece or its culture. Of the seven major characters, only one is actually Greek. Two of the actors (notably Eli Wallach) play at being Hellenic while struggling through bad accents and mangled dialog. Culturally, the whole film is a profound embarrassment if you know anything about Greece. But of course, that wasn't the point of the project. Rather, it was a vehicle for Haley Mills. By this standard, she does good work presenting herself as a wacky cute girl who stumbles onto a scheme involving stolen jewels. The plot itself is needlessly confused, and characters say and do all sorts of things that make no practical sense except as stale devices to move the story along. 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. At this point the movie thoroughly entertains and nearly makes up for the hour-plus of previous tedium. Unfortunately, even Eli Wallach fails to impress in this strained vehicle. 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. It's really quite unremarkable. 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.

downtownebookstore I saw this in the theater when it came out in 1964. It became one of my favorite movies of all times. No, the acting wasn't the best, the plot has holes, and it is a saccharine Disney movie. But it is also pure, clean entertainment. My elderly father loves it, I still enjoy watching it, and my grandchildren do, too. 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. It is a shame that this movie is his only real claim to fame. 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. I wanted to board a fantastic yacht and pet an ocelot. Especially, I wanted a little romance with a tall, handsome British man with lots of wavy hair, a man with a secret, who also respected me and would save me in time of danger. It was a wonderful movie.

blwilson-2 I loved this movie. I first saw it when I was seven years old, so I developed my first crush on Haley Mills. I remember staring at a full moon and being transported to the Greek isles and holding hands with her and going on all sorts of adventures......sigh. and then there is The Truth About Spring and Search for the Castaways....a little boys heart was just a fluttering. Back to the Moon...I so wanted to be on that island to help her and her friend. I was all in knots during the wind mill adventure...wow for a seven year old that was very intense, especially for a country boy. I remember yelling at the movie screen when things got too intense, and I was very relieved when everything turned out OK. 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!

towers7_2002 As a child, I was raised on the Moon-Spinners. Now, as an adult, I enjoy the movie even more! 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 about an English girl who goes with her aunt to Greece. While there, she meets an English young man who has gotten himself into a bit of trouble. It's a mystery/adventure/romance that epitomizes all cheesy films of the time. However, regardless of the so-called "cheese factor" in it, it's still a good movie that will always be one of my favorites and I recommend it to all.