burt lancaster be perfect a the age town constable . he be a decent guy who be manipulate into kill a man in self defense . he try to raise money for the dead man widow and be tell by the town leader that they will match any amount put up by the big rancher who manipulate burt into kill the man . he go to see the guy and be beat and have a wooden cross tie to his back . he be set free to walk through the desert back to town . he should die but whit a little help he survive . let sleep dog lie would be a good title for this film because burt past be that of a man who hunt apache . burt be sleep but now he be wide awake and woe to those who mistreat him . burt character pack a vicious bite . i love burt in all his western and this be one of his top 10 .