{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = What the Moon Saw | image = What the Moon Saw 1990.jpg | caption = | director = [[Pino Amenta]] | producer = [[Frank Howson]] | writer = [[Frank Howson]] | based_on = | narrator = | starring = Andrew Shepherd<br>[[Max Phipps]]<br>Pat Evison<br>[[Kim Gyngell]]<br>[[Danielle Spencer (Australian actress)|Danielle Spencer]] | music = | cinematography = [[David Connell (cinematographer)|David Connell]] | editing = | studio = [[Boulevard Films]] | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1990|12}} | runtime = | country = Australia | language = English | budget = A$3,350,000<ref>"Production Barometer", ''Cinema Papers'', May 1989 p. 40</ref> | gross = A$43,919 (Australia)<ref>[http://www.film.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/967/AA4_Aust_Box_office_report.pdf Australian Films at the Australian Box Office] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122071740/http://www.film.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/967/AA4_Aust_Box_office_report.pdf |date=22 January 2015 }} Report for Film Victoria</ref> }} '''''What the Moon Saw''''' is a 1990 Australian film directed by [[Pino Amenta]]. The first of five films Boulevard Films made following the success of ''[[Boulevard of Broken Dreams (film)|Boulevard of Broken Dreams]]'' (1988), it was based on Howson's memories of being a child actor in the theatre.<ref name="stratton2">David Stratton, ''The Avocado Plantation: Boom and Bust in the Australian Film Industry'', Pan MacMillan, 1990 p. 153</ref>
The musical performed in the film, ''Sinbad's Last Adventure'' was written by Howson.<ref>Adrian Jackson, "What the Moon Saw", ''Australian Film 1978–1992'', Oxford Uni Press, 1993 p. 307</ref>
==Plot==
Steven Wilson travels from the outback to visit his Gran in Melbourne for the school holidays. Gran's former role as a showgirl enables Steven to be drawn in by the magic of the theatre. While watching a performance of ''Sinbad's Last Adventure'', Steven becomes immersed in the story, becoming the sailor himself, and adventure ensues.
==Cast== * Andrew Shepherd as Steven Wilson * [[Max Phipps]] as Mr Zachary * [[Pat Evison]] as Gran * [[Kim Gyngell]] as Jim Shilling * [[Danielle Spencer (Australian actress)|Danielle Spencer]] as Emma * [[Alan Fletcher (actor)|Alan Fletcher]] as Mr Esposito * [[Gary Sweet]] as Alan Wilson * [[Adrian Wright]] as Kurt * Kurt Ludescher as George * [[Tommy Dysart]] as Skip * Mark Hennessy as Tony * Robyn Gibbes as Bev Wilson
==Production== Howson had been a child actor and had worked extensively in the theatre. He later said of the film: <blockquote>I wrote in one long night, and it captured a real energy. Even when I was writing it I had no idea where it was heading. Which is good, because neither did the audience. It’s the only script of mine that didn’t need a polish and that not one actor wanted to change a word of it. It really did capture some kind of magic.<ref name="frank"/></blockquote> ==Reception== According to Howson: <blockquote>It became the first Australian film sold to Miramax and opened the London Film Festival in 1990 and was selected for competition at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival. Even I can’t explain its appeal. In fact, it breaks quite a few rules of the formula movie, and perhaps that’s why it worked. The publicity by-line on the Miramax poster was, “A look at the magic of innocence.” And that’s what it was. <ref name="frank">{{cite web|url=https://cultfilmalley.com.au/2019/07/13/producer-writer-director-frank-howson-on-laura-branigan-the-boulevard-of-broken-dreams-the-art-of-creation-and-more/|title=Producer and Writer Frank Howson on Laura Branigan, the Boulevard of Broken Dreams, the Art of Creation and more…|website=Cult Film Alley|date=13 July 2019}}</ref></blockquote> ''Filmink'' magazine said "The film is full of charm and had so much... potential, it’s frustrating that it’s not better than it is: it looks splendid, has a magical atmosphere and features fantastic actors... However, once more, as a writer Howson made a series of errors, notably under-utilising his characters and including a dream sequence in act three that goes for twenty minutes."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|magazine=Filmink|title=Frank Howson: The Unsung Auteur|date=February 21, 2024|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/frank-howson-the-unsung-auteur/}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0100915}} *[http://www.ozmovies.com.au/movie/what-the-moon-saw ''What the Moon Saw''] at Oz Movies
[[Category:Australian children's films]] [[Category:1990 films]] [[Category:1990 English-language films]] [[Category:1990 Australian films]] [[Category:1990 children's films]]