WesternRomance

Blood on the Moon

- A WOMAN'S BULLET KILLS AS QUICK AS A MAN'S!

Down-and-out cowhand Jim Garry is asked by his old friend Tate Riling to help mediate a cattle dispute. When Garry arrives, however, it soon becomes clear that Riling has not been entirely forthright. Garry uncovers Riling's plot to dupe local rancher John Lufton out of a fortune. When Lufton's firecracker of a daughter, Amy, gets involved, Garry must choose between his old loyalties and what he knows to be right.

Release Date : 1948-11-11

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Jim Garry

Original Name : Robert Mitchum

Gender : Male

Character Name : Amy Lufton

Original Name : Barbara Bel Geddes

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tate Riling

Original Name : Robert Preston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Kris Barden

Original Name : Walter Brennan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carol Lufton

Original Name : Phyllis Thaxter

Gender : Female

Character Name : Jake Pindalest

Original Name : Frank Faylen

Gender : Male

Character Name : John Lufton

Original Name : Tom Tully

Gender : Male

Character Name : Milo Sweet

Original Name : Charles McGraw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Shotten

Original Name : Clifton Young

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Reardon

Original Name : Tom Tyler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fred Barden

Original Name : George Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ted Elser

Original Name : Tom Keene

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cap Willis

Original Name : Bud Osborne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nels Titterton

Original Name : Zon Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bart Daniels

Original Name : Robert Bray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barney (uncredited)

Original Name : Joe Devlin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Commissary Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Chris-Pin Martin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Toma (uncredited)

Original Name : Iron Eyes Cody

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cowboy (uncredited)

Original Name : Harry Carey, Jr.

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

I can buy me that kind of friend for $75 a month and no questions asked. Blood on the Moon is directed by Robert Wise and is adapted from a Luke Short story by Lillie Hayward and Harold Shumante. It stars Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston, Walter Brennan, Phyllis Thaxter, Frank Faylen, Tom Tully and Charles McGraw. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca. Story has Mitchum as drifting cowboy Jim Garry, who after receiving a job offer in the mail from old acquaintance Tate Riling (Preston), finds himself pitched in the middle of a war between cattle ranchers and homesteaders. Effective and tightly crafted Western that has garnered many favourable remarks, due in the main to its ability to veer away from formula suggested by the plot and the technical film noir touches brought about by the great Musuraca. With Mitchum turning in one of his great screen dominating performances, film is driven forward by the psychological aspects brought about by thematics such as duplicity, split loyalties and moral quandaries. Director Wise does a good job of pacing the film, keeping it on the slow burn whilst dialling into Jim Garry's mindset, and picture is further boosted by a great knuckle fight and a rip-roaring siege shoot out at the end. But it's the mood created by Musuraca and Wise that is the real winner. With the film set 90% at night or in darkened rooms, shadow play is high and an oppressive feel adds weight to the psychological clocks ticking away in the narrative. In support of Mitchum, Geddes does spunky cowgirl well, while the presence of Brennan, Faylen and the gravel voiced McGraw is keenly felt. Good story, well acted and visually potent. 7/10