BLOOD ON THE MOON

US, 1948, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Walter Brennan, Robert Preston, Phyllis Taster, Charles McGraw?.
Directed by Robert Wise.

A modest scaled Western directed by Robert Wise, a prolific director, however not noted for his Westerns. He made Tribute to a Bad Man in 1956. This is conventional material of war on the ranges over cattle and property. The film is notable for an early performance by Robert Mitchum giving his sturdy laconic presence. Robert Preston is the vociferous villain. Barbara Bel Geddes in an early film is a strong heroine and Phyllis Thaxter has a somewhat unsympathetic role. Average but quite well made.

1. Entertaining and interesting Western? The title and themes? Tone?

2. The conventions of the Western and how well used? Anonymous stranger riding in, changing people's lives and being changed? The ranchers and the farmers and their conflicts? Gunfighters, the Army, Indians?

3. Black and white location photography, studio sets? The score?

4. The familiarity of the plot contents? Satisfying for the purposes of the film? Realistic? The anonymous stranger, partnerships, cattlemen, farmers? The clashes of interests? The doublecrossing and deals? Heroism? Gun fights?

5. Robert Mitchum's style as the hero? The strong sturdy type, his manner of riding in and the encounter with the cattlemen. the confrontation with Alma and the shooting and her suspicions, his linking up with Riley? The seeing through Riley's scheme? His decision to help the farmers? Attraction towards Alma? The gun fights? The relationship with Chris and his help? Lupton's suspicions? The trick with the Army? Alma's following him? His being wounded, the inevitable gun fight with Riley, the happy ending? The conventional Western hero?

6. Alma as heroine? The initial shooting, her devotion to her father, suspicions of Jim, believing him, in love, following him? The shootout? The contrast with Carol and her love for Riley, betraying her father, her warning to Alma about being disappointed in gunfighters, the confrontation with Riley, her change of heart?

7. The minor characters on the side of the farmers, Lupton and his attitudes, the Army chief and his double deals, Chris and his son and his eventual help? The gunfighters? How well delineated?

8. Riley as villain - his persuasive speech, friendship with Jim, the gunfighters, his schemes and his using people especially Carol, his using Jim, willingness to kill? The shootouts? the final confrontation and his death?

9. The issues of the cattle Western, the land, deals, survival, pioneering?

10. Conventional material, memorable sequences? The themes of the American West and its heritage?