Brendan O'Malley (Kirk Douglas) is a wanted man in Texas--that's why he's in Mexico when the film begins. A sheriff, Dana Stribling (Rock Hudson) has come from Texas looking to bring O'Malley back to face justice. It's not just because he's a lawman but because the man O'Malley shot was Stribling's brother-in-law.
O'Malley comes upon a ranch run by the Breckinridges. Mrs. Breckinridge (Dorothy Malone) is a woman O'Malley loved many, many years ago. Now here is where the plot gets rather goofy--O'Malley agrees to help Mr. Breckinridge (Joseph Cotten) take his cattle to market...in Texas! This would mean exposing himself to arrest! But the plot only gets weirder-- Stribling soon arrives and signs on to help in this cattle drive!! And it's assumed when they get to Texas, Stribling will see O'Malley hang. So why does O'Malley continue with the drive?!?! Sure, he wants Mrs. Breckinridge--but why can't he just stop in Mexico and stay there?!
Later, the film does get interesting. Over time, Stribling and O'Malley grow to like each other and you really don't know what they will do in Texas. Additionally, when Mrs. Breckinridge rejects O'Malley, the Breckingridge daughter, Missy (Carole Lynley) proclaims her love for O'Malley--even though he's old enough to be her father. In fact, that IS what happens--he learns that he's her father. Now this made the ending confusing--why would O'Malley deliberately goad Stribling into killing him?! Now IF O'Malley has had sex with Missy, then this would have made a lot more sense--a rare case where I wish that an older film had been a lot more explicit and creepy. This twist would have made the ending make a lot more sense. As it is, however, it just doesn't make a lot of sense.
O'Malley comes upon a ranch run by the Breckinridges. Mrs. Breckinridge (Dorothy Malone) is a woman O'Malley loved many, many years ago. Now here is where the plot gets rather goofy--O'Malley agrees to help Mr. Breckinridge (Joseph Cotten) take his cattle to market...in Texas! This would mean exposing himself to arrest! But the plot only gets weirder-- Stribling soon arrives and signs on to help in this cattle drive!! And it's assumed when they get to Texas, Stribling will see O'Malley hang. So why does O'Malley continue with the drive?!?! Sure, he wants Mrs. Breckinridge--but why can't he just stop in Mexico and stay there?!
Later, the film does get interesting. Over time, Stribling and O'Malley grow to like each other and you really don't know what they will do in Texas. Additionally, when Mrs. Breckinridge rejects O'Malley, the Breckingridge daughter, Missy (Carole Lynley) proclaims her love for O'Malley--even though he's old enough to be her father. In fact, that IS what happens--he learns that he's her father. Now this made the ending confusing--why would O'Malley deliberately goad Stribling into killing him?! Now IF O'Malley has had sex with Missy, then this would have made a lot more sense--a rare case where I wish that an older film had been a lot more explicit and creepy. This twist would have made the ending make a lot more sense. As it is, however, it just doesn't make a lot of sense.