“Paper Moon” Is A Hollywood Gem
The historic film is one of Hollywood’s best films, now streaming on Filmstruck
The story is a classic Hollywood tale.
Coming off his highly acclaimed films The Last Picture Show and What’s Up, Doc? during the late 1960s, Peter Bogdanovich was stuck. His new film, based on the book Addie Pray, was not the issue; in fact, the book was the perfect source material. A fan of period films (the story takes place during the Great Depression) and having daughters of his own (the main character was a young girl), Bogdanovich saw potential for a great film. The writer, director and producer believed this story, and his vision, would entertain audiences. The only problem was the title Addie Pray; Bogdanovich hated it.
Worried, Bogdanovich turned to his friend and mentor Orson Welles.
Welles, who is behind some of film’s greatest triumphs, gave Bogdanovich advice on some of the technical quirks of his upcoming film, advice only a person with Welles’ stature could point out. (For instance, he told Bogdanovich to shoot the picture in black and white with a red tint, so that image is much starker.)
When it came to the title, Welles wanted to hear what Bogdanovich had in mind. Somehow, the title Paper Moon was thrown into the mix. Bogdanovich was not sure the title fit the film. Welles disagreed.
“That title is so good,” Welles exclaimed, “you should not make the picture — just release the title!”
With that, Paper Moon was born.
Released in 1973, Paper Moon is one of Hollywood’s best. Directed by Bogdanovich and written by Alan Sargent, the period film tells the story of Moses Pray and Addie Loggins, two cons — one by trade and one learning the trade — looking to make a living during the Great Depression. The film stars Ryan O’Neal as Moses and Tatum O’Neal, her first film role and Ryan O’Neal’s daughter, as young Addie.
Paper Moon is not trying to make a larger social statement, and the film does not exist to challenge a point-of-view. Paper Moon exists to entertain, and I challenge you to find a more entertaining film. Anchored by the performances of both O’Neals, Sargent’s writing and Bogdanovich’s directorial touches, Paper Moon is a classic Hollywood film that contemporary audiences will find witty and charming.
The film starts off with a mission: Addie, now an orphan, needs to get to her aunt’s house in Missouri. Currently in Kansas, the trek is daunting. Moses — who might or might not be Addie’s father — meets Addie at her mother’s burial service and is paid $200 by the brother of the person who accidentally killed her mother to take Addie to Missouri. Addie overhears, demands the money should be given to her, to which Moses agrees to raise on the road. He spent most on fixing his car and does not have the $200. The two set off conning people to get the $200, but also enjoy the thrill and adventure of being on the road. When the time comes to drop Addie off, the two have a hard time saying good-bye.
The film’s revelation and the biggest enjoyment comes from Tatum O’Neal’s performance. As young Addie Loggins, O’Neal is the perfect mix of cute and witty. She beautifully balances the cunning actions of a con artist — an adult one at that — with the charm of an 8 year old girl. At first, the viewer is drawn away from Addie. She is tough, blunt and incredibly stand-off-ish. Addie is a kid that does not play by the rules. Due to her unfortunate circumstances, Addie has to fend for herself. Despite her bluntness, her will to survive is admirable. As she opens up to Moses — or “Mose” as she calls him — Addie becomes much more sympathetic and likable. The ability to switch gears and know how the character must evolve over the course of the film is a credit to O’Neal and Bogdanovich. (The director did not rush her takes or put added pressure on Tatum to complete a scene. Bogdanovich wanted her to feel as comfortable as she could while in front of the camera.)
At the crux of her character arc, Addie is looking for a friend and someone to look out for her — or for her to care for someone. She enjoys the companionship of having a friend who is older than her. That side of her character resented with myself, as I was that type of kid. I always enjoyed hanging out and talking to someone older than myself. As a kid, it was a symbol of “being cool”. Who needs the validation of other kids when adults like talking to you? I understand and can relate to what Addie is feeling and goes through during the film, even if at time I do not like her. Because of that connection, I absolutely have a blast watching Addie Loggins on screen.
Although Tatum O’Neal’s performance if the highlight of Paper Moon, it certainly is not the only high point. The back-and-forth between her and Ryan O’Neal feels natural. Part of that, no doubt, is the father-daughter connection between Ryan and Tatum. The viewer certainly gets that vibe watching the two interact on screen, although the film never vocalizes that relationship. The other part to their fantastic on-screen chemistry is the writing. Sargent’s script is smart, funny and light. The dialogue is quick and witty, while providing enough “meat and potatoes” to understand both Moses and Addie. There is no real “backstory”; the audience learns everything through their dialogue and on the fly.
Most of the film is enriched with snappy dialogue and fun character moments, but Bogdanovich includes a fantastic action scene. Escaping from a jail, Moses and Addie are on the run from the cops. When they need to get over the state line, Moses realizes he went the wrong way. The scene is tense, but includes the fun, light humor that has carried the film so far. Every single part — the writing, the directing, the acting — is on display during the chase scene, and it is a highlight of Paper Moon.
Following its release, Paper Moon made Hollywood history. At 10 years old, Tatum O’Neal became the youngest Academy Award winner in a competitive category (she won for Best Supporting Actress). Her performance clocks in at 1 hour, 6 minutes and 58 seconds — the longest performance to win. Her records still stand today.
Paper Moon is a Hollywood classic. A tale of two becoming friends and looking out for one another, the film is filled with incredible humor and heart. Both O’Neal’s shine, but Tatum’s performance is an incredibly acting feat. At an 1 hour and 42 minutes, the film does not feel long enough. Currently, you can stream Paper Moon on Filmstruck.
