If I didn’t know this was a Samuel Fuller film going into it, I don’t believe I would have recognized his hand at work. The film is about two people who live their lives on the frontier. Each has a position of power and holds it through force. Jessica Drummond (Barbara Stanwyck) has her kingdom that she controls with her small army of armed men and her influence deeply entrenched throughout the region. Griff Bonnell (Barry Sullivan) is a Marshall. Along with his brothers, he tracks down criminals. Both sound cool on the surface, but in fact they are miserable. What’s worse is that their lifestyle is poisoning a younger generation. It’s the struggle over the younger generation that is the source of conflict. When Bonnell arrives in her town to make an arrest, the two are pulled to each other as the worlds they hold in their hands crumble with collateral damage.

Everyone does a good job. It’s shot in beautiful black and white with stylish cinematography. On a repeat viewing, I probably would recommend this film. For now, I say it’s worth a look.