The film begins with Gary Cooper traveling far from home in order to try to find a school teacher for his village. This is pretty believable but what isn't is after there's a train robbery--then things get a bit hard to buy into. It seems he and two others were separated from the train in the middle of nowhere. One of them is a lady...who happens to be a school teacher. But this isn't the crazy part, after the trio walk just a little ways, they come upon a house that used to be a hideout for Cooper in his outlaw days! Think of the odds! Unfortunately, the train robbers return and it happens that the gang is the same one that Cooper left long ago. He's since turned over a new leaf and is an honest man--but he knows he must pretend to be there to rejoin his old gang for the sake of the school teacher and gambler with him---otherwise they'll be killed. There's MUCH more to the film than this--but I'll leave it up to you to find out what happens.
Fortunately, despite a plot filled with long odds, the film still works due to excellent direction from Anthony Mann as well as very good acting. Sure, Cooper is too old for his part, but he's still quite good--as are the rest. Not a great western but solid and enjoyable--with a very strong ending as well as a grittiness that is rather reminiscent of a noir film, believe it or not.
Fortunately, despite a plot filled with long odds, the film still works due to excellent direction from Anthony Mann as well as very good acting. Sure, Cooper is too old for his part, but he's still quite good--as are the rest. Not a great western but solid and enjoyable--with a very strong ending as well as a grittiness that is rather reminiscent of a noir film, believe it or not.