In some of her early films, such as 'Tiger Bay' or 'Whistle Down the Wind', Hayley Mills revealed herself to be one of Britain's most remarkable child actresses, but as an adult her films were generally unremarkable. The light family films she made in her teenage years for Disney and others can be seen as marking a stage in her decline to the ordinary from the extraordinary. Indeed, they were possibly a cause of that decline; had she been given more demanding roles during this period she might have matured into a bigger adult star. The studios' determination to fit her into the role of Teenage Virgin Queen occupied a few years earlier by Sandra Dee might also have made it more difficult for the public to accept her as an adult woman.

'The Moonspinners' is a typical offering from her Disney period. The teenage Nikky Ferris arrives for a holiday in Crete with her aunt, a musicologist who wants to make recordings of Cretan folk-music. The owner of their hotel, however, is unwelcoming and his behaviour soon arises Nikky's suspicions that he is involved in some criminal enterprise. Nikky meets and befriends a young Englishman, Mark, and the two soon find themselves involved in a search to recover some stolen jewels.

Several other reviewers compare this film to the work of Alfred Hitchcock. The film is a mixture of romantic comedy and thriller, although I felt that the romance and comedy elements predominate over the suspense elements to a greater extent than they ever do in Hitchcock, even in his lighter films. The scene where Nikki and Mark are rescued from the windmill, however, did strike me as very Hitchcockian; I wondered if it was intended as deliberate homage to the similar scene involving Joel McCrae in 'Foreign Correspondent'.

My general impression of the film was that it was, despite some attractive location photography, a fairly routine light thriller. Peter McEnery, as Mark, makes an uncharismatic leading man, and the principal baddies (Eli Wallach as suspicious, surly foreigner and John Le Mesurier as smooth but hypocritical English gentleman) are drawn straight from the Official Hollywood Scriptwriter's Guide to Stock Villainous Characters. There is an amusing cameo from Sheila Hancock as Le Mesurier's alcoholic wife, but the best thing about the film is the presence of Hayley herself. She reminded me of Audrey Hepburn whose charisma and presence frequently enabled her to make memorable what would otherwise have been very ordinary thrillers or romantic comedies. Hayley was, of course, considerably younger than Audrey and (in my view) less classically beautiful, but shared with her the ability to carry a film through charm and charisma. 'The Moonspinners' is not in the same league as Hayley's best films, but it is worth watching for a chance to see this fine young actress. 6/10

"The Moon-Spinners" is a mystery movie from Disney and while it's pretty enjoyable, I was frustrated at how Haley Mills' character was written. At times, she was annoying and difficult to believe.

Nikky (Mills) and her aunt are traveling in Greece when the film begins. They arrive at a tiny village in Crete...only to find the local inn didn't know they were coming AND they were rather unfriendly towards the pair. They were able to convince them, finally, to let them stay....and almost as soon as they got a room, Uncle Stratos (Eli Wallach) began acting very strangely...as if he has something to hide. Well, of course he does...as does the nice young man who Nikky is starting to fall for...he also is hiding a lot! One of them is a jewel thief...the other the man who was blamed for a theft he didn't commit.

In general, the film is good. But at one point, Nikky is taken prisoner and threatened with death. And, when she is rescued, she screams A LOT and acts like an idiot. To escape she has to jump onto slowly spinning blades on a windmill...there seems to be no other option. So, she screams a lot and finally, eventually, gives a completely half-hearted attempt. I kept thinking "Girl, you are going to die...STOP screaming and jump $^&%". And, for much of this scene and the next, Nikky didn't act like an 18 year-old girl but a 6 year-old...and I HATE when characters act this foolishly and unbelievably.

I also was annoyed that again and again, Nikky rightfully kept asking Michael what is going on...why is someone trying to kill them. Well, when he finally begins to tell her, she insists 'NO...I don't want to know!". What in the heck?! Again, I hate when a film suddenly makes a character act this foolishly....and I'm sure it really made it tough for the audience to care about her plight. 17-18 year-olds aren't supposed to be 100% confident or adult-like...but they aren't supposed to be complete fools.

If you can look past this very badly written character, then the rest of the movie is pretty good...and worth seeing. Just try to look past Nikky and enjoy what else the film has to offer.

Although she would soon be leaving Disney Studios Hayley Mills at the age of 18 got a chance at a semi-adult role with a semi-adult romance with young Peter McEnery in The Moon-Spinners. The film is worth a look if for no other reason than the great location cinematography on the Island of Crete.

Mills and her aunt Joan Greenwood are on holiday in Crete and they arrive at the small inn that they were supposed to be staying and the owner, Irene Papas is decidedly cool and has to be forced to provide Mills and Greenwood with accommodations. Eli Wallach who is Papas's brother is most unfriendly wishing they would leave post haste.

Wallach has reason for wanting them out, he's planning to sell some stolen jewels to Pola Negri who's collected a lot of such loot with six husbands along the way. But Peter McEnery has different ideas. He's got his own plans for the jewels.

McEnery and Mills make a fine attractive young couple and Eli Wallach as the villain is at his best. When is he ever not. And the chance to see three legends of varying degree as Irene Papas, Joan Greenwood, and silent star Pola Negri in a comeback role is not to be missed.

The Moon-Spinners plays a like a Nancy Drew mystery and I wonder why Disney never cast Hayley Mills as the teen sleuth. She would have been perfect in the role. Kids and adults will enjoy this film from the Magic Kingdom.