Released on December 28, 1930, the first screen adaptation of The New Moon (redubbed New Moon, without the article) starred Grace Moore and Lawrence Tibbett. Directed by Jack Conway, the 78-minute film also featured Adolphe Menjou, Roland Young, Gus Shy and Emily Fitzroy. Only four songs from the original score were retained: “Stouthearted Men,” “One Kiss,” “Wanting You” and Lover, Come Back to Me.” “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise” was used only as underscoring, and two additional songs were written for the film.

The New York Times praised the movie as “an excellent combination of fine singing, romance and adventure” and Time said “‘Lover Come Back to Me’ is sung probably better than it has ever been sung before.” But not all reviews were positive; Joe Bigelow of Variety wrote, “There’s not enough along with the singing, either in the players or the play.”