gregory peck and gig young be compete for the same girl and after peck sends young on a very dangerous mission and they blame him for his reason . feel guilty and peck go on an almost impossible task of defend a fort and where they be outnumber by the indian . peck choose for this mission soldier which he consider to be the scum of the earth and the actor that play these soldier and ward bond and lon chaney jr. and neville brand among others and be excellent . the script be derive from a novel by charles marquis warren who be a specialist in western and a a writer and director and producer . the idea of use this type of men a hero inspire many film that come out later include the dirty dozen make in 1967 .