Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Robert Preston star in “Blood on the Moon”

A classic “noir Western,” Blood on the Moon (1948) is an American Western noir directed by Robert Wise and starring Robert Preston, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Robert Preston. The supporting cast includes Walter Brennan, Frank Faylen, and Phyllis Thaxter.

The film centers on Jim Garry (Mitchum), a drifter and a hired hand. He’s called to a remote part of the American West by an old friend, Tate Riling (Preston), who’s involved in a dispute with a local cattle rancher. Initially, Garry agrees to take on a role in what he believes is a straightforward business deal, but he quickly discovers a complex web of deceit, betrayal, and violence.

The film’s plot thickens as Garry becomes entangled in the conflict between the cattleman and a group of homesteaders. The rancher's spirited daughter, Amy Lufton (Bel Geddes), immediately distrusts Garry, suspecting he’s on the side of her family’s enemies. As Garry begins to question his friend’s true intentions and the morality of his own involvement, he finds himself caught between opposing sides, each with their own secrets and hidden agendas. He learns that the stakes are much higher than he first believed and that he’s a pawn in a much larger, more dangerous game.

Torn between loyalty to his past and a growing sense of justice, Garry must navigate a treacherous landscape of shifting allegiances and constant danger. His journey to uncover the truth and choose a side forces him to confront his own cynical nature and determine where his true loyalties lie.

Blood on the Moon trivia

• After seeing the film, Howard Hughes canceled Barbara Bel Geddes’s contract. He said she wasn’t sexy enough.
• For the night scenes, director Robert Wise and cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca chose to use infrared film, despite the problems it could cause with the tones of clothes and makeup.
• According to some pre-production press, James Stewart was set to star in the Mitchum role.
• Walter Brennan thought Robert Mitchum looked like an authentic cowboy.

 

Click HERE to watch the film on the Internet Archive.

Click HERE to join the online discussion on Monday October 13, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time. Once you RSVP, you will receive an invitation with a link to join the discussion on Zoom.

Discussion questions

1. Noir Western or Traditional Western? Blood on the Moon is often called a “Noir Western.” What elements of film noir does it incorporate? Do you think the film ultimately adheres more to the conventions of film noir or the traditional Western genre?
2. The Morality of Jim Garry: At the start of the film, Jim Garry is a hired hand, a man for hire with no clear moral compass. How does his character evolve throughout the film? What events or interactions, particularly with Amy Lufton, lead to his shift from a cynical opportunist to a man of principle?
3. Trust and Betrayal: The film’s plot is driven by a complex web of deceit. Discuss the theme of trust as it applies to the relationships between Jim Garry and Tate Riling, Jim and Amy, and even Amy and her father. In this world, who can be trusted, and why?
4. Symbolism of the Setting: The film’s desolate, rugged landscapes serve as more than just a backdrop. How does the setting—the canyons, the isolated ranches, the moonlit nights—reflect or enhance the film’s themes of moral ambiguity, isolation, and conflict?