Fess Parker, Robert Taylor, and Tina Louise star in this dramatic Western. Directed by Michael Curtiz (the legendary director of Casablanca and Mildred Pierce) and with a marvelous script by Dudley Nichols and Luke Short, it’s the story of a dogged Marshal’s pursuit of a fugitive—and the town that seems willing to do anything to protect him from the law.

Marshal Mackenzie (Mac) Bovard has earned an unusual nickname: The Hangman. A hardnose cynic, his relentless pursuit of justice has given him a reputation for never giving up—nor giving in—when it comes to tracking down outlaws.

So, when Mac captures three Wells Fargo robbers, and the fourth manages to escape, he’s determined to complete the job—no matter what. Two of the outlaws have been hanged. The third, Zimmerman, awaits his fate at the gallows. And Bovard needs his help to bring the fourth outlaw, John Butterfield, to justice, since Bovard has never laid eyes on him. Still, Zimmerman refuses to cooperate.

Left to his own resources, Mac has his work cut out for him. After investigating, he learns that Butterfield was in the cavalry at Fort Kenton. Soon, he tracks down Butterfield’s old girlfriend, Selah Jennison, who works in the fort’s laundry. Despite offering Selah $500 to identify Butterfield, she refuses to help. But throughout their interaction, it’s clear that the two are attracted to one another. Bovard leaves her a ticket to the town where he thinks Butterfield may be hiding, and he heads out to capture his man. To his surprise—and disappointment (because he had hoped Selah was the one person who could not be bought), she arrives in Butterfield’s town. Only it’s not to help Bovard, but to warn Butterfield.

That’s not the only shock awaiting Bovard: When he finally tracks down Butterfield (who is now going by the name Johnny Bishop), no one is willing to identify him. Not the townspeople, who all seem to love him. Not even the town’s sheriff, who claims that Johnny is a good man with a young wife and a baby on the way. In fact, Mac soon learns that Johnny is the most respected man in town.

Mac firmly believes that outlaws are beyond redemption and that everyone has their price. But as the days go by, he begins to wonder if, just maybe, he’s been wrong all along….