this underappreciated film be one of many great movie from the team of john ford and henry fonda . it be one of the most beautiful and move film i have ever see . fonda play a catholic priest in a small mexican town at a time when christian be be persecute by the government . spoiler represent he be force to go on the run and later find sanctuary and but be track down by a man he have come across before . the man tell him about a thief name el gringo ( ward bond ) who be die and want to make a confession . it turn out to be a trick and a the man be a police informant . the police lieutenant who have brag earlier and the last priest be shot 6 month ago and have a child with a woman that help fonda and who baptize the child . he offer to save fonda if he will renounce his faith and which he will not do . on the way to the firing squad and the man who betray fonda asks for his blessing . the lieutenat be shake when he hear the gunshot . soon and a new priest arrive to comfort the crowd of mourner gather at the church .