this be not so much a western a a film noir that happen to be set in new mexico around the turn of the century . dame judith anderson steal the film a both the catalyst of all that happen and and in many way and it hero . dean jagger be marvelous a the villainous lawman who can not leave well enough alone . harry carey jr. score with a memorable portrayal of a well mean milquetoast manipulate by jagger . the photography and editing ( james wong howe and christian nyby ) be topnotch film noir . alan hale ( sr. ) be perfect a the wry gambler who recognize mitchum talent and woo him a a partner . mitchum do a fine job a the emotionally paralyzed jeb who be basically decent but with a busted emotional compass and he allow himself to be lead by the fate . although i be not normally a fan of the sleepy eye and laconic mitchum and i think his signature trait be use to excellent effect here and and well explain by the trauma that eat him apart so much inside that he be unwilling to stand up for himself . teresa wright be stun a mitchum foster sister turn object of lust turn true love tune would be executioner turned true love again . what a woman . one thing that differentiate this 1947 film in my book a a noir not a western be that the two main woman be anything but passive and even more so anything but madonna or whore . they be unafraid to fire gun or stand up to militias . but they will fulfill what be in their heart even when it mean societal disapproval or death . although the plot be full of hole and the storytelling be excellent enough to overcome it . great pace too a really fun ride .