The Stalking Moon (1968)

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, and invites them to join him. He does this even ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writers:

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

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Eva Marie Saint, Robert Forster

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

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, and invites them to join him. He does this even knowing the child's father is a feared and murderous Apache and that sooner or later a showdown is almost inevitable.

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Plot Keywords:

half breed | son | very little dialogue | native american | mountain cabin | 

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1969 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

L'homme sauvage

Filming Locations:

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National General Production Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The movie was set and filmed in the Mojave Desert, yet in an early scene at an Army camp, the still night air is filled with the sound of crickets and frogs. This would be fine had the camp been in or near an oasis, but it clearly was not. With no wind, there should have been no sound at all from outside the camp.

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Quotes

Sarah Carver: I didn't have the courage to die. I knew what I had to do to stay alive.

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Connections

Referenced in Reflections of Evil (2002)

User Reviews

"You Figure you beat the man . . .you keep the breed?"

"The Stalking Moon" is perhaps one of the finest roles which Gregory Peck made in his career. Few western films evoke the kind of suspense and drama this film presents. Sam Varner is a U.S. Army scout hunting Apaches in the 1880's. His expertise is so keen, the army tries to insist his Indian knowledge is indispensable and unequaled by any white man. This includes the half breed Indian boy, Nick Tana (Robert Forster) whom Varner hopes will replace him as chief scout for the army. The day he retires from the army, Varner is made aware of the discovery of a white captive Sarah Carver, (Eva Marie Saint) found among the Apaches captured in a round-up. Having been taken hostage ten years prior, all she wants now is to escape to a place where her Indian husband cannot find her. Her insistence becomes apparent when Varner learns her boy, is the son of the most notorious and certainly the most dangerous Apache renegade since Geronimo. The deadly duel begins with the most experienced army scout trying to defend the White mother and her child, against an Apache warrior who's name "Salvaje" (Nathaniel Narcisco) is synonymous with " The Moon's Ghost," with a reputation so ruthless a company of soldiers died in a single night trying to fight him. (Noland Clay) plays the Indian Breed and is torn between his Indian Father and White Mother. The movie is enhanced and made more poignant with the tense dramatic action, skilled acting and haunting melody. One is thoroughly captivated with the film and when it reaches it's climax, it's sure to earn the coveted status of Classic. ****