Blue Moon (2025)
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12-month trend
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2025-09 to 2026-08
A struggling musical theater composer reflects on his career and a burgeoning romance on the opening night of a rival's successful musical.
The story
On March 31, 1943, composer Lorenz Hart slips away from the opening night of Oklahoma!, a new musical by his former partner Richard Rodgers. Hart arrives at Sardi's restaurant, where he spends the evening with a bartender and a piano player. While navigating his own struggles with alcohol and his career status, Hart attempts to navigate his feelings for Elizabeth Weiland, a young art student with whom he has been corresponding for months. As the night progresses, Hart interacts with fellow writers and his former partners, attempting to find connection and clarity amidst the success of his peer's production.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
On March 31, 1943, Lorenz Hart slips away from the opening night of Oklahoma!, a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, to spend time at Sardi's restaurant. Hart, who is struggling with alcohol and his career, interacts with a bartender and a piano player while reflecting on his life. He is particularly infatuated with Elizabeth Weiland, a student he has been corresponding with. During the night, he encounters writer E. B. White and later meets Rodgers, who suggests a new collaboration. However, Hart's feelings for Elizabeth are complicated; she eventually confesses she does not love him 'that way' and mentions his rumored homosexuality. After a final night of reflection and a performance of his hit 'Blue Moon', Hart's health declines, and he passes away a few days later. Rodgers and Hammerstein go on to become Broadway's most famous partnership.
- First release year
- 2025
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Richard Linklater
- Writers
- Robert Kaplow · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ethan Hawke · Lorenz Hart; Margaret Qualley · Elizabeth Weiland; Bobby Cannavale; Andrew Scott
- Genres
- biographical; comedy-drama
- Themes
- unrequited love; alcoholism; artistic rivalry
- Tone and mood
- tragicomedy
- Premise and plot tags
- biographical; musical theatre; period piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- the letters of Elizabeth Weiland to Lorenz Hart
- Reception
- received positive reviews from critics
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 78 · scale: 100 · review count: 43
- Awards and nominations
- Silver Bear · Best Supporting Performance · win
- Production trivia
- The production used 'old stagecraft' to depict Hart's diminutive stature.; The film was shot on a soundstage in Dublin, Ireland.; The character of Stevie is identified as 'Stevie Sondheim'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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