Jim Slater's father (whom he never knew) died in the Apache ambush at Gila Valley, and Jim is searching for the one survivor, who supposedly went for help but disappeared with a lot of gold. In the process, he gets several people gunning for him, and he keeps meeting liberated woman Karyl Orton, who may be on a similar mission. Renewed Apache hostilities and an impending range war provide complications.
Well-crafted western centred on psychology and mystery with Widmark hunting for the man responsible for his father's death, and Donna Reed hunting for the gold. Both characters have a mission in this engaging western which has a fair share of action pockmarked throughout the busy plot, but the emphasis on the mystery. There's even a touch of noir. The cinematography and location is superb and the dialogue is snappy. It's strange how this John Sturges directed film is lesser known. William Campbell is great as the sneering troublesome gunslinger called Johnny Cool, and John McIntyre does some scenery chewing.
Well-crafted western centred on psychology and mystery with Widmark hunting for the man responsible for his father's death, and Donna Reed hunting for the gold. Both characters have a mission in this engaging western which has a fair share of action pockmarked throughout the busy plot, but the emphasis on the mystery. There's even a touch of noir. The cinematography and location is superb and the dialogue is snappy. It's strange how this John Sturges directed film is lesser known. William Campbell is great as the sneering troublesome gunslinger called Johnny Cool, and John McIntyre does some scenery chewing.