Jim Douglass try an effective rancher top a quite, happy life together with his spouse and you will child

Eventually, after going back household off tending cattle, Douglass finds out his family ransacked, their currency stolen and his spouse savagely raped and you may murdered. John Butler (Gene Evans), a good prospector and you may Douglass’ neighbors, ‘s the only experience to the event and then he convinces Douglass the dastardly deed is the time from the an outlaw band of four: a couple of whites, one half-breed and a keen Indian. Burning with desire for Vengeance and you will full of hate, Douglass renders their child that have a mexican let and you will sets out locate the new four offenders. The guy chases all of them for almost half a year, whenever finally he comes to remember that the fresh new four was basically detained – for almost all most other crime- and you can imprisoned from the city of Rio Arriba, in which he is getting hanged so you can passing.

Alfonso Parral, the fresh new half-Indian (Lee Van Cleef), is among the most temperamental, whereas the latest North american country Indian, Lujan (Henry Silva) is among the most authored and considerate of the criminal gang

In the event happy that the government is actually doing his vengeance to possess your, he could be distressed that he failed to kill the culprits himself. He tours so you can Rio Arriba so you’re able to witness the latest clinging. Alfred Newman’s effective get weight away toward sound recording; unlike rousing, this new rating was mad, violent and hard, indicating the new determination of protagonist. It expressionist accessibility landscape, costumes and you may tunes was seen on the motion picture, particularly NorveГ§ kadД±n the accessibility bluish filters with the (time for) evening sequences because of the higher Fox cinematographer Leon Shamroy providing the film a cool, steely border which fits Peck’s brightly laconic efficiency. That it movie can get lack the scope regarding “The newest Searchers”, nevertheless movie try just a graphic cure while the Ford’s classic, with Shamroy playing with memorable the means to access many of the gorgeous North american country metropolitan areas to possess his “DeLuxe” color picture taking.

By-the-way, this type of visual ostentatiousness is a positive change to own director Queen, whose clips hasn’t been very aesthetically vibrant in past times; whether or not he has brought grand cups which have Tyrone Electricity, because is actually towards Studio directors of yore, he was a beneficial proponent regarding “invisible” style, just who enjoyed to store the digital camera actions or any other artwork pyrotechnics into minimum, and focuses on advising a good tale for the a straightforward fashion. So it change in their filmmaking looks are without a doubt dependent on the fresh new moments and from the works from administrators such Mann and you may Ford.

The leader, together with very imaginative of one’s group try Costs Zachary (Stephen Boyd), good lecherous womanizer- so when their prior (and you will coming) procedures have a tendency to show he may well enjoys added new physical violence with the Douglass’ spouse

Douglass was averted simply outside of the area from the deputy Sheriff, which requires their weapons and you can escorts your in order to area; an additional cover measure adopted by the town sheriff, Eloy Sanchez (Herbert Rudley) given that very following day is the hanging of the four outlaws and he does not want people interference. Individuals regarding urban area are incredibly towards line and the presence of it strange complete stranger inhibits them even further, especially once the laconic Douglass volunteers little or no information about just who he’s, and you may what is the purpose of his head to. Douglass requests a gathering toward outlaws and you can sheriff allows him to do that. Douglass was contributed with the jail cell carrying this new guys, and then he will come one on one towards five whom the guy believes killed their wife.

Douglass investigates them with dislike-filled attention and you will thy look back perplexed- simply because they haven’t viewed both just before. The fresh new condemned guys are a mix of contrasts; this new filmmakers do a good little bit of characterization for the minimal level of display screen-time available to distinguish you to from the other and that’s essential due to the fact movie moves on. Second is actually Ed Taylor (Albert Salmi): a whole lot more rooted, laconic which can be an informed take to of one’s pile.