The Moonlighter (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 5.6
Released in 1953, The Moonlighter is a western film directed by Roy Rowland, running about 78 minutes. “THE MOST MAN-WOMAN EXCITEMENT EVENT TO EXPLODE OFF THE SCREEN IN Natural Vision 3DIMENSION!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Wes Anderson (Fred MacMurray) is caught cattle rustling and promptly jailed. The public is outraged, but, since Wes always worked at night, they don't know what he looks like. Still, they break into the prison and lynch a hobo they think is Wes, while the actual culprit sneaks off to see his old flame, Rela (Barbara Stanwyck), who has recently taken up with his straitlaced brother, Tom (William Ching). But Tom is envious of his outlaw brother, and he decides to join Wes in a life of crime.
Who’s in it. The Moonlighter stars Barbara Stanwyck as Rela, Fred MacMurray as Wes Anderson, Ward Bond as Cole Gardner and William Ching as Tom Anderson, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.6/10, The Moonlighter has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Moonlighter page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Moonlighter tend to enjoy The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Django Unchained, Once Upon a Time in the West and For a Few Dollars More.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Moonlighter (1953)?
- In US, The Moonlighter is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Moonlighter worth watching?
- The Moonlighter holds an audience score of 5.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy western. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Moonlighter?
- The Moonlighter stars Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray, Ward Bond, William Ching and John Dierkes.