Gregory Peck, though not known for his Westerns, has done some of the best films in this genre. THE BIG COUNTRY stands as my favorite Western of all, though THE GUNFIGHTER, YELLOW SKY and THE BRAVADOS are all classics--thanks in no small part to Peck's wonderful performances. Well, unfortunately, this is no classic, though THE STALKING MOON is still a pretty good film.

Part of the reason the film can't be placed in the same league as these other films is because of Peck's character. In these other films, he was a very strong and impressive character--with a lot to say. However, in THE STALKING MOON Peck's character is much more vague and much more like an action hero. There just isn't much in the way of character development or glimpses of who he was exactly supposed to be. Instead, for much of the film he just reacted to situations imposed upon him--in this case, being tracked down by a vengeful Indian who wants his wife and son back after they were rescued. The wife (Eva Marie Saint) was abducted by Indians many years before and the film opens with her being found by the cavalry. Peck comes into the picture because he's escorting the lady and boy to a new life when out of the blue the angry Indian begins attacking White settlers in an attempt to find the two.

While the lack of depth to Peck's character is a bit of a problem, the only serious one is the clichéd way one of the minor characters, Ned, acted in the film--and why does there so often seem to be this suicidal character in movies? At this point in the film, the angry vengeful Indian is lurking outside. Ned's dog is killed and so Ned runs out in the middle of the night with no gun, no knife--nothing to defend himself against an Indian who has already killed about a dozen folks since the film began. No one is THAT stupid--and having him run out "dead meat" style is silly.

Overall, it's a decent enough film that has a very tense and interesting ending--but not much more to it than that.

From the same folks who brought you To Kill a Mockingbird, a good western thriller The Stalking Moon blends old west action with Alfred Hitchcock type suspense.

Gregory Peck is an old army scout who helped rescue captive white woman Eva Marie Saint and her son Noland Clay by one of the Apache chiefs. The father isn't about to give up his son and he pursues Peck all the way to his ranch after he quit the cavalry. The last 40% of the film deals with Peck and his ranch guests being stalked by a clever and dangerous Indian opponent.

The film itself touches on themes used in both The Searchers and Two Rode Together by John Ford and the fine Joel McCrea-Barbara Stanwyck western, Trooper Hook. But director Robert J. Mulligan took his style cues from Alfred Hitchcock.

We don't ever see the opponent except in long shot right up to the very end. We only know him from what is said about Nathaniel Narciso from what is said and the death and destruction in his wake. The anticipation is all the more terrifying.

Western and suspense, The Stalking Moon is a nice blend of film genres and fans of Gregory Peck and Eva Marie Saint will be pleased.

Scout Sam Varner (Gregory Peck) is retiring from the Army. He guides a squad of US troopers to round up a group of native Indians. Among the mostly women and children are Sarah Carver (Eva Marie Saint) and her half-Indian son Ashki. She is desperate to leave immediately. Only Varner is leaving right away to his new homestead in New Mexico. He agrees to take them to a stage coach station. Death follows her. It's the boy's father, a great warrior named Salvaje.

This is an opportunity to have a great western. If Salvaje is to be feared, his brutal killings need to be shown. The military detachment needs to be massacred. I don't mind the station massacre. It's a nice ghostly affair. This could be a fearsome western but it doesn't have the power of other more modern westerns. Director Robert Mulligan's most famous movie is probably "To Kill a Mockingbird" also starring Peck. Mulligan doesn't have the action thrills. As for Eva Marie Saint, her character is far too quiet. I understand the nature of her plight but she should be talking the native tongue with her son. The movie is a bit too quiet. Instead of increased mood, it slows the pacing. The potential is there for a landmark western.