The Moonlighter ** (1953, Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Ward Bond, William Ching, John Dierkes, Morris Ankrum, Jack Elam) – Classic Movie Review 5223

Director Roy Rowland’s surprisingly limp, sluggish and over-familiar 1953 Western reunites Double Indemnity stars Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray for this Niven Busch story about a cattle rustler villain, Wes Anderson (MacMurray), intent on changing his wicked ways and winning back his former love, Rela (Stanwyck).

It was originally filmed and released by Warner Bros in 3D, but even in that format it is extremely flat. This movie is a disappointment, with its over-concentration on the cheesy romance between the stars, and with very little action to help it out. Stanwyck and MacMurray are always valuable assets in a movie, but here they are largely wasted. However, the film remains worth a little look for these two stars, plus a top roster of Western character actors.

Also in the cast are Ward Bond, William Ching, John Dierkes as Sheriff Daws, Morris Ankrum, Jack Elam as Slim, Charles Halton as Undertaker, Norman Leavitt, Sam Flint, Myra Marsh, David Alpert, Gregg Barton, Robert Bice, Joel Fluellen, Byron Foulger, Dolores Fuller, Myron Healey, William Hunter, Ron Kennedy, Burt Mustin, Gene Roth, Steve Rowland and Almira Sessions.

MacMurray and Stanwyck also star together in Remember the Night (1940) and There’s Always Tomorrow (1956).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5223

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