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The Moonlighter

  • 1953
  • Approved
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
774
YOUR RATING
Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in The Moonlighter (1953)
Western

A cattle herder turned rustler runs from a lynch mob and falls, again, for an ex-lover.A cattle herder turned rustler runs from a lynch mob and falls, again, for an ex-lover.A cattle herder turned rustler runs from a lynch mob and falls, again, for an ex-lover.

  • Director
    • Roy Rowland
  • Writer
    • Niven Busch
  • Stars
    • Barbara Stanwyck
    • Fred MacMurray
    • Ward Bond
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    774
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Roy Rowland
    • Writer
      • Niven Busch
    • Stars
      • Barbara Stanwyck
      • Fred MacMurray
      • Ward Bond
    • 24User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos9

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    + 3
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    Top cast55

    Edit
    Barbara Stanwyck
    Barbara Stanwyck
    • Rela
    Fred MacMurray
    Fred MacMurray
    • Wes Anderson
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Cole Gardner
    William Ching
    William Ching
    • Tom Anderson
    John Dierkes
    John Dierkes
    • Sheriff Daws
    Morris Ankrum
    Morris Ankrum
    • Alexander Prince
    Jack Elam
    Jack Elam
    • Slim
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Clemmons Usqubaugh - Undertaker
    Norman Leavitt
    Norman Leavitt
    • Tidy
    Sam Flint
    Sam Flint
    • Mr. Mott - Bank President
    Myra Marsh
    • Mrs. Anderson
    William Kerwin
    • Tony
    Tom Keene
    Tom Keene
    • Sheriff
    • (as Richard Powers)
    Victor Adamson
    Victor Adamson
    • Townsman at Funeral
    • (uncredited)
    David Alpert
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    Al Bain
    Al Bain
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Gregg Barton
    Gregg Barton
    • Bar X Man in Lynch Mob
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Bice
    Robert Bice
    • Bar X Man in Lynch Mob
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Roy Rowland
    • Writer
      • Niven Busch
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Ben Mankiewicz on TCM, Barbara Stanwyck did her own stunts during the waterfall scene, and despite becoming black and blue, never held up the production.
    • Goofs
      The sexed-up image of Rela (Barbara Stanwyck) in a short skirt and low-cut blouse, prominently displayed on the poster, is nothing like the modestly-dressed, 45-year-old Stanwyck who appears in the film; the provocative line of dialogue attributed to her on the poster is never spoken.
    • Quotes

      Rela: You've changed, Wes.

      Wes Anderson: Nobody stays the same.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits roll up from behind the scene of mountains, and include "Photographed in Natural Vision 3 Dimension",

    User reviews24

    Featured review
    6/10

    reunion

    Wes Anderson (Fred MacMurray) has been moonlighting as a cattle rustler. A crowd has gathered to see him hang. Sheriff Daws insists on saving him for the trial. Rancher Alex Prince's men arrive looking to break into the jail to lynch the man. Wes escapes when the wrong man gets lynched. That man is buried as Wes while Wes seeks revenge upon Alex Prince's men. Wes' ex Rela (Barbara Stanwyck) arrives set to marry his straight-laced younger brother Tom.

    Apparently, this was shown in 3D. I don't know how that's done when it's in black and white. It must have been like one of those old toy 3d Viewfinders. Technical aside, this has MacMurray playing against type as a hardened cowboy. Also I don't get much heat with the MacMurray and Stanwyck reunion. Sticking Tom in the middle does not make it a fun love triangle. It's not the best western and I don't know how well the 3d worked. It seems fine otherwise.
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Apr 24, 2020
    • Permalink

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    FAQ14

    • How long is The Moonlighter?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Reino de sombras
    • Filming locations
      • Peppermint Falls, Sequoia National Forest, California, USA(waterfall scene - near Springville, California)
    • Production companies
      • Joseph Bernhard Productions Inc.
      • Abtcon Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,000,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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