Blood on the Moon (1948)

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary
When a shady-looking stranger rides into town to join his old friend
it is assumed he is a hired gun.
But as the new man comes to realise the unlawful nature of his buddy's business
and the way the homesteaders are being used, the two men draw apart to become sworn enemies.
Written by Jeremy Perkins

Cast
Robert Mitchum ... Jim Garry
Barbara Bel Geddes ... Amy Lufton
Robert Preston ... Tate Riling
Walter Brennan ... Kris Barden
Phyllis Thaxter ... Carol Lufton
Frank Faylen ... Jake Pindalest
Tom Tully ... John Lufton
Charles McGraw ... Milo Sweet
Clifton Young ... Joe Shotten
Tom Tyler ... Frank Reardon
George Cooper ... Fred Barden
Tom Keene ... Ted Elser (as Richard Powers)
Bud Osborne ... Cap Willis
Zon Murray ... Nels Titterton
Robert Bray ...
Bart Daniels ... Townswoman (uncredited)
Harry Carey Jr. ... Cowboy (uncredited)
Iron Eyes Cody ... Toma (uncredited)

Directed
Robert Wise

Writing Credits
Lillie Hayward ... (screenplay)
Harold Shumate ... (adaptation)
Luke Short ... (adaptation) (from the novel by)

Produced
Sid Rogell ... executive producer
Theron Warth ... producer

Music
Roy Webb

Cinematography
Nicholas Musuraca ... director of photography

Trivia
Because director Robert Wise thought that it was unnatural that the winner
of a Western brawl usually finished the fight vigorously,
he made it a point that both fighters would be exhausted and worn out at the end of this one.

In 1953, RKO reissued this film theatrically on a double bill with another western,
Fort Apache (1948) starring John Wayne and Henry Fonda,
with the tag line "Two Rip-Roaring Action Hits!"

In 1957, this film was distributed on a double bill in the USA
with Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957).
(Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957) was retitled "Battle Hell".)

Early in the film, there is gunfire exchanged between Jim Garry and Amy Lufton.
Jim fires his rifle 13 times without reloading.
While it may seem this would not be possible,
because of the size of the cartridges used on the Winchester Model 73,
the magazine could hold between 15 and 20 rounds.

Shortly after this movie was made, the new boss of RKO, Howard Hughes,
terminated Barbara Bel Geddes' contract, saying she wasn't sexy enough.

Memorable Quotes

Filming Locations
Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona, USA
Sedona, Arizona, USA
Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA
RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
Calabasas, California, USA (exteriors: cattle stampede)
Monogram Ranch - 24715 Oak Creek Avenue, Newhall, California, USA

Blood on the Moon is a 1948 RKO black-and-white "psychological" western
directed by Robert Wise with cinematography by Nicholas Musuraca.

The film, starring Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes,
and Robert Preston has many film noir elements.
It was shot in California and some of the more scenic shots at Red Rock Crossing, Sedona, Arizona.
The picture is based on the novel Gunman's Chance by Luke Short.

Look out for Harry Carey Jr.

User Review

A Western for Adults before Anthony Mann 9/10
Author: Melvin M. Carter from United States .2 January 2005

Quote from melvin

Class A western with a great Robert Mitchum performance. Unlike other tall men riding in the films of that time, Mitchum's character is not a snow white hero coming to save the day,but a darkened figure just two steps from being an outlaw. Robert Preston is the charming,jovial wolf in a manner similar to Arthur Kennedy in Bend In the River and Robert Ryan's performance in The Naked Spur. Their epic brawl in an out of the way dingy saloon is one of the best movie fights ranking with John Wayne's and Randolph Scott's The Spoilers duel. Proves that RKO was for a time home to some true innovations in movie story telling. Mitchum's character will only go so far and thanks to Barbara Bel Geddes non Cathy turn as a frontier woman who gradually replaces her Calamity Jane-ish dress to become, seemingly, more domesticated in the manners of both typical western heroines and the mainstream movie going publics view of women after WWII ( Rosie the Riveter transforming into June Cleaver). The fact is though she isn't a screamer nor a corner huddler but equally as strong as Moody Bob. Great Western.

Photos with courtesy of lasbugas