The Stalking Moon (1968)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

Alvin Sargent (screenplay)
Wendell Mayes (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1969 (Sweden)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

When an army scout retires to a farm in New Mexico he takes pity on a white woman and her half-breed son recently rescued from indians...

Plot Keywords:

Half Breed | Son | Apache Indian | Male Female Relationship | One Man Army

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Gregory Peck	...	Sam Varner
Eva Marie Saint	...	Sarah Carver
Robert Forster	...	Nick Tana
Noland Clay	...	Boy
Russell Thorson	...	Ned
Frank Silvera	...	Major
Lonny Chapman	...	Purdue
Lou Frizzell	...	Stationmaster (as Lou Frizell)
Henry Beckman	...	Sgt. Rudabaugh
Charles Tyner	...	Dace
Richard Bull	...	Doctor
Sandy Brown Wyeth	...	Rachel (as Sandy Wyeth)
Joaquín Martínez	...	Julio (as Joaquin Martinez)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	...	Stage Driver Shelby (as Red Morgan)
Nathaniel Narcisco	...	Salvaje
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Farnsworth	...	(uncredited)
James Olson	...	Cavalry Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Mulligan

Writing credits
Alvin Sargent		(screenplay)
Wendell Mayes		(adaptation)
Theodore V. Olsen		(novel)

Produced by
Alan J. Pakula	....	producer

Original Music by
Fred Karlin

Cinematography by
Charles Lang		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Aaron Stell

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by
Roland Anderson
Jack Poplin

Set Decoration by
Frank Tuttle

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup supervisor
Naomi Cavin	....	hair stylist
Franz Prehoda	....	makeup supervisor (as Frank Prehoda)

Production Management
Harry Caplan	....	executive production manager (as Harry A. Caplan)
Jack Kirschner	....	post-production supervisor
Russell Saunders	....	unit production manager (as Russ Saunders)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don Kranze	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Frank Tuttle	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Stunts
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	....	stunt double: Trooper (uncredited)
Buddy Van Horn	....	stunt double: Varner (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Seth Banks	....	costumes: men
Grace Harris	....	costumes: women
Dorothy Jeakins	....	costumes: Eva Marie Saint

Music Department
John Mick	....	music editor

Other crew
Meta Rebner	....	script supervisor
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• National General Production Inc.

Distributors

• National General Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1974) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Screen Life (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• National Screen Services  titles

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:G | Iceland:16 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada, USA

Company:

National General Production Inc.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gregory Peck walks out of the cabin he is unshaven, but when he's seen outside the cabin he's clean-shaven.

Quotes:

Major: One more year! That's all I ask.
Sam Varner: That's all you asked last year.
Major: That's all I'll ask next year!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Reflections of Evil (2002)

A Western Thriller

From the same folks who brought you To Kill a Mockingbird, a good western thriller The Stalking Moon blends old west action with Alfred Hitchcock type suspense.

Gregory Peck is an old army scout who helped rescue captive white woman Eva Marie Saint and her son Noland Clay by one of the Apache chiefs. The father isn't about to give up his son and he pursues Peck all the way to his ranch after he quit the cavalry. The last 40% of the film deals with Peck and his ranch guests being stalked by a clever and dangerous Indian opponent.

The film itself touches on themes used in both The Searchers and Two Rode Together by John Ford and the fine Joel McCrea-Barbara Stanwyck western, Trooper Hook. But director Robert J. Mulligan took his style cues from Alfred Hitchcock.

We don't ever see the opponent except in long shot right up to the very end. We only know him from what is said about Nathaniel Narciso from what is said and the death and destruction in his wake. The anticipation is all the more terrifying.

Western and suspense, The Stalking Moon is a nice blend of film genres and fans of Gregory Peck and Eva Marie Saint will be pleased.