The ending could be considered a bit predictable but you are captivated anyway incident after incident. Who will hear who?
Who will live? Who will die? We do care.

I don't think any western since "The Searchers" havs pleased me this much. I ordered my used video just recently. Sure it's an older film when Peck and St. Marie were then less than young, but, indeed, a keeper.


Western Thriller   July 5, 2008
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

THE STALKING MOON is one of the great "later" Hollywood westerns! Produced
in 1968 it came at a time when westerns were losing something of their appeal. The film had mixed reviews when it was first released but since then it has gained a sort of cult status and is now generally well praised by western fans. So this release of the movie on DVD at this time is very welcome and opportune.

From a fine screenplay by Alvin Sargent and tight direction by Robert
Mulligan "The Stalking Moon" turned out to be a highly charged suspense drama set in the west. Gregory Peck arguably gave his best performance in a western as the Arizona cavalry scout of 20 years who is now retiring to his ranch in New Mexico. To keep house for him he reluctantly takes on a woman (Eve Maria Saint)who had just been rescued from the Apaches along with her son - an Indian boy. She had been abducted by the Apaches and was their prisoner for more than ten years. Peck feels for her plight and offers to take her on unaware alas that the boy's father - an infamous and
murderous Apache by the name of Salvaje - wants his son back and leaving a trail of dead bodies in his wake has tracked them to the ranch.
Terrific excitement then ensues as the Indian makes effort after effort
to retrieve the boy, with Peck just about deterring him at every attempt
but not before the deaths of any help he had mobilised. A game of cat and mouse develops between the two antagonists and excitement reaches fever pitch when finally alone Peck takes on his slippery foe in a fierce and
climactic hand to hand fight to the death.

It is all extremely well done especially never seeing what the Apache really looks like throughout the picture. Phantom-like - he is only seen in fleeting glimpses now and then. The actor Nathaniel Narcisco gives a superb performance of authenticity as the fearsome Apache as does young Noland Clay as the boy. In fact the entire movie has a marvellous authentic thrust to it! Excellent too is Eve Maria Saint who's role is that of a tortured and sorrowful figure. Her performance is heartfelt and sincere! Also playing a good part is Robert Forster as the illfated half breed friend of Peck who joins forces with him against the Apache and Russell Thorson as the caretaker of the ranch.

This is a nail-biting thrill packed western thanks to a great cast, Mulligan's taut direction, Charles Lang's stylish Panavision cinematography and an excellent atmospheric score by the underrated Fred Karlin who also supplied a traditional and haunting whistled theme tune.