Ethan Hawke Stars in Richard Linklater's Blue Moon Biopic on Broadway Lyricist

The film "Blue Moon," directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke as Broadway lyricist Lorenz Hart, focuses on a single night in 1943 during the opening of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "Oklahoma!" This night marks a pivotal moment as Hart grapples with his alcoholism, depression, and the end of his creative partnership with Richard Rodgers. Unlike traditional biopics, the film eschews a full-life narrative, opting instead to capture the emotional complexity of Hart's last months, highlighting his wit, sadness, and yearning. The movie also features strong performances from Bobby Cannavale, Margaret Qualley, and Andrew Scott, who plays Hammerstein, and has been praised for its intimate, dialogue-driven approach and its fresh perspective on biographical storytelling. Set in the iconic Sardi's bar, "Blue Moon" poignantly explores themes of artistic struggle and personal loss, situating Hart at the cultural crossroads between the Jazz Age and post-World War II America. Critics note the film's balance of humor and melancholy, capturing the bittersweet legacy of a talented but troubled figure in musical theater history.