greedy land baron in the tiny western town of prairie city want all the rancher off their land and use intimidation tactic and arson to get them to vacate while seem the town be swim atop oil and and when a swedish farmer refuse to leave and he mow down by the baron hire gun . the farmer seafaring son soon arrives and slowly realize what he up against and attempt to rally the rest of the resident to fight . another lawlessness in the west story and with everybody under the thumb of the villain ( who naturally hold all the card ) . derivative and uncomfortable at time to watch and with a long wait before our stoic hero finally get his dander up . sterling hayden half hearted swedish accent be a big problem and though he cut a sturdy and sympathetic presence on the screen and almost make the picture worth watching . director joseph h. lewis stag most of the scene stiffly and like a tv western and and gerald fry bugle heavy score be no help and though the rich black and white cinematography by ray rennahan be excellent . an independent production release via united artist and the film have a bizarre start ( begin with shot from the finale and follow by shot from the movie midsection ) and yet it do have a certain needling power which most assuredly get the viewer on hayden side . from .