From the opening scene with Jessica Drummond (Barbara Stanwyck) and her 40 men riding past a small wagon with three men and kicking up a huge cloud of dust to the bitter ending, this is a gem that should be seen by every western fans.
Barry Sullivan stars as Griff Bonell a new Sheriff who comes to Cochise County and runs head long into trouble right upon his arrival. A good friend is killed in cold blood by a drunken young man named Brockie Drummond (John Ericson). He is jailed for only a matter of hours before his sister Jessica rides into town, 40 men in tow and pays to have him tried and released within a matter on minutes.
Bonell and his brothers Chico (Robert Dix) and Wes (Gene Barry) soon find that the current Sheriff, Ned Logan (Dean Jagger) is a coward and the judge named Macy (Paul Dubov) is firmly in Jessica's pocket.
Griff goes back out to Drummond's ranch and serves another warrant for one of her men and after he has been delivered to jail he is shot and killed under mysterious circumstances. Griff suspects Brockie did the killing but can't prove it.
Slowly, over time Griff starts falling for Jessica as he starts to see the real woman behind all of the ballyhoo. Their relationship becomes very intense and is put to the real test when Wes is gunned down by Brockie on his wedding day.
The tension builds and builds until the incredible climax in which Griff does something I have never seen in any western before or since. The ending to the film is bittersweet and handled expertly by both cast and director Fuller.
The rest of the cast for this classic includes the gorgeous Ziva Rodann, Gerald Milton, Hank Worden and Sandy Wirth. If you like westerns this is a MUST see film with imagery not to be forgotten. I mean, this even has a rendezvous between Griff and Jessica interrupted by a tornado!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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