The Stalking Moon (1968)

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 | Very Little Dialogue | Native American | Mountain Cabin

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
Frank Prehoda	....	makeup supervisor

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 Service  titles

Also Known As:

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:G | Iceland:16 | Norway:16 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Red Rock Canyon, Nevada, USA

Company:

National General Production Inc.

Goofs:

Factual errors: A young boy spends almost the entire film walking across the mountains for days, then, when he puts his feet up in one shot the bottoms of his moccasins are neither soiled or worn but look brand new.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Reflections of Evil (2002)

Dark shadows and unseen danger

This western was released when Hollywood was about finished with the genre and the film went largely unnoticed. However, the movie is well photographed, with good work by Gregory Peck, although Eva Marie Saint doesn't have much to do in the way of dialogue. Peck is a cavalry scout who quits the military to ranch in New Mexico and takes Saint and her half-breed son with him. Peck and Saint eventually turn up the romantic flames, but her boy is the object of a deadly game of search and destroy. The lad's father, a murderous Apache warrior, wants to reclaim him, and perhaps kill the woman for deserting him. The film has plenty of suspense, creepy shadows, and eerie noises in the dark and at times seems more like a mystery than a western. Most of the action occurs at picture's end, and Fred Karlin's plaintive yet thrilling score builds up the tension as Peck and Salvaje edge towards their showdown.