RABBIT’S MOON (director/writer: Kenneth Anger; cinematographer: Oleg Tourjansky/Kenneth Anger; editor: Kenneth Anger; music: Andy Arthur; cast: André Soubeyran (Pierrot), Claude Revenant (Harlequin), Nadine Valence (Columbine); Runtime: 7; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Kennath Anger; Mystic Fire Video; 1950)

“Beautifully presented lyrical short yarn.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Underground filmmaker Kenneth Anger (“Scorpio Rising”/”Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome”/”Lucifer Rising”), someone ahead of his time in filming technique, films this beautifully presented lyrical short yarn, in a threatening blue tinted color, with an all-mime cast, as a lunar dream for the yearning of the unobtainable. It’s a “Magic Lantern” Commedia del’Arte play that seems like a Japanese myth, as it recreates a late nineteenth century magical fairytale look. Anger shot it in France, on the set owned by Jean-Pierre Melville.

Pierrot (André Soubeyran) attempts to reach the moon and when there seeks advice from a moon-dwelling rabbit, and later tries to win the love of Columbine (Nadine Valance). In the latter, he’s thwarted by the Harlequin (Claude Revenant), until he finds a magic lantern and obtains happiness.

The soundtrack of the costume drama is made up of all doo wop songs.

REVIEWED ON 3/30/2013 GRADE: B+