Steve Millar(Don Dubbins)narrates how his life changes when he meets a tough, hardened, vengeful rancher, Jeremy Rodock(James Cagney)who will stop at nothing to hang those who wish to steal or harm his horses. Another thorn always pressing in Rodock's side is those who wish to adorn themselves with his woman, Jo(Irene Papas, quite good). Steve eventually completely falls for her, but Jo has made it quite well known she owes everything to Jeremy who gave her shelter and a place to live when she had absolutely nothing. Jo tries her best to ward Steve off the ranch back home to Pennsylvania's city life where he ultimately belongs. But, Steve is an ornery sort who really wishes to learn his craft at breaking horses and ranching. But, as certain thieves gather together(using an old partner of Jeremy's named Peterson played by James Bell), Jeremy will again twist in rage to get those responsible for trying to steal his horses and take the lives of he and his men. Then, in a later development, a past acquaintance of Jo's, McNulty(Stephen McNally), will try for Jo, fight with Jeremy when he is fired for such a deed, and find Old Man Peterson's son, Lars(Vic Morrow, turning in the typically good performance)to try and again steal Jeremy's horses. What McNulty does do is harm the horses by bleeding their shoes and this will ultimately challenge Jeremy's will to choose..Jo's desires for him to stop hanging men or losing her.
The theme of lynching is nothing new, but Cagney is fascinating to watch because he plays Jeremy quite conflicted. I felt Jeremy just wants to breed his horses and run his massive ranch, but anyone who who desires to take what is his shows a sign of disrespect to what the man and his men accomplished through hard labor and sweat. I think that rage isn't just for him, but for all his men who work hard and put in the time..not just to lose their horses to no-good greedy interlopers looking for a quick buck through another's hard labor. But, the film is through-and-through a love-triangle melodrama with Jeremy having to accept the crossroads in his life. Jo is certainly the woman he loves and we see this when others even dare try and attempt a go at her. Like those who steal his horses, Jo is, in a modest way, his property also. He brought her up from nothing, gave her more than she would've ever gotten at her current state, and provided her with warmth. But, she wanted the killing to stop even though the ones he does the hanging to are ripe for it. A better-than-average film even if it basically deal with standard elements often over-used in the genre.
The theme of lynching is nothing new, but Cagney is fascinating to watch because he plays Jeremy quite conflicted. I felt Jeremy just wants to breed his horses and run his massive ranch, but anyone who who desires to take what is his shows a sign of disrespect to what the man and his men accomplished through hard labor and sweat. I think that rage isn't just for him, but for all his men who work hard and put in the time..not just to lose their horses to no-good greedy interlopers looking for a quick buck through another's hard labor. But, the film is through-and-through a love-triangle melodrama with Jeremy having to accept the crossroads in his life. Jo is certainly the woman he loves and we see this when others even dare try and attempt a go at her. Like those who steal his horses, Jo is, in a modest way, his property also. He brought her up from nothing, gave her more than she would've ever gotten at her current state, and provided her with warmth. But, she wanted the killing to stop even though the ones he does the hanging to are ripe for it. A better-than-average film even if it basically deal with standard elements often over-used in the genre.