Reaching for the Moon (1930) Director: Edmund Goulding Starring: Douglas Fairbanks, Bebe Daniels, Edward Everett Horton Runtime: 66 minutes (edited public domain version; original cut was approx. 91 minutes) Format: Black & White / Sound Summary: Douglas Fairbanks stars as a wealthy, jaded Wall Street tycoon who finds both romance and humility while on a luxury cruise. A charming comedy with romantic flair, the film explores themes of love, fortune, and redemption, all set against the backdrop of pre-Depression opulence. Background: Originally intended as a musical with songs by Irving Berlin, the film was heavily reworked prior to release due to the sudden decline in popularity of musicals in 1930. Many of Berlin’s numbers were cut, and even more were later removed in syndication edits for TV and home release—resulting in the widely circulated 66-minute version. The original theatrical release ran approximately 91 minutes and included several now-lost musical segments. Surviving full-length versions are rare, and most public domain editions reflect this shorter cut. Trivia: Douglas Fairbanks, known for silent swashbucklers, was stepping into the talkie era here—this is one of his few sound films. Irving Berlin’s full score was never used in its entirety, though the title song remained. The cruise ship scenes were filmed on location aboard an actual ocean liner. The film was released just months after the 1929 stock market crash, making its plot—about a billionaire rethinking his priorities—oddly prescient. Hashtags: #DouglasFairbanks #ClassicCinema #EarlyTalkies #1930sMovies #OldHollywood #BebeDaniels #VintageFilm #LostMusicals #PreCodeHollywood #PublicDomainFilm #CruiseRomance #FilmHistory #IrvingBerlin #SilentEraIcons #OldMovieGem