Blood on the Moon - A Western Film Noir

Jim Garry (Robert Mitchum) rides into a typical western town, looking for his friend, Tate Riling (Robert Preston), who asked him to come and help him with a job. The "job" turns out to be a dirty one - strong-arming some cattlemen involved in a range dispute with a group of settlers, in hopes of cheating them all out of a lot of money. Preston even works his charms on the daughter (Phyllis Thaxter) of a cattleman (Tom Tully) in an effort to get what he wants.

But Garry has a conscience, and decides to turn against his friend, with the aide of a settler who lost his son to the violence (Walter Brennan) and the cattleman's other, spunky daughter, Amy, played convincingly by cutie Barbara Bel Geddes. He and Amy grow to love each other - but a showdown between Garry and Riling could end their chance for happiness.

I had caught bits and pieces of this film for years and thought it looked interesting but there always seemed to be something else for me to do besides watch it. I finally sat down yesterday morning and absorbed it completely - and I have to say I was really missing out by avoiding this film! It is dark and serious, with great dialogue, perfect acting from everyone in the cast, and expert directing from a giant in the industry - Robert Wise! Plus the cinematography is stunning!

Mitchum's performance as Jim Garry is a knock-out, literally, at a few points in the film. He is a rough character, not the type you'd think would know wrong from right, but in the end he proves that he is worthy of Amy's love. And that's what a good film is all about, watching characters change and evolve (or devolve, as the case may be) right before your eyes!