Someday, immediately following coming back household from tending cattle, Douglass discovers his domestic ransacked, his currency stolen along Bridgeport, NJ wife com with his spouse savagely raped and you will slain. John Butler (Gene Evans), a beneficial prospector and you can Douglass’ neighbor, is the best witness on the event and he convinces Douglass the dastardly deed are the full time from the an outlaw band of four: one or two whites, half-breed and you can a keen Indian. Consuming having interest in Revenge and you will filled up with hate, Douglass makes their daughter having a mexican let and sets out discover the brand new four culprits. He chases all of them for almost six months, whenever in the long run the guy relates to be aware that the fresh new five were detained – for many almost every other offense- and you will imprisoned in the city of Rio Arriba, in which he could be becoming hanged in order to death.
Alfonso Parral, the new half-Indian (Lee Van Cleef), is one of temperamental, while the Mexican Indian, Lujan (Henry Silva) is among the most composed and you will careful of one’s unlawful group
Whether or not happy the authorities was performing their vengeance to possess your, he is troubled which he didn’t kill the offenders himself. The guy rides so you’re able to Rio Arriba so you can experience the newest clinging. Alfred Newman’s powerful score pounds aside with the soundtrack; in place of rousing, the fresh new rating try frustrated, violent and difficult, showing the fresh new devotion of the protagonist. This expressionist accessibility surroundings, costumes and songs would-be viewed regarding movie, particularly the use of bluish strain toward (big date to possess) nights sequences from the great Fox cinematographer Leon Shamroy providing the motion picture a cold, steely edge that matches Peck’s brightly laconic performance. It movie may do not have the range of “The latest Searchers”, however the motion picture are just a graphic get rid of while the Ford’s vintage, that have Shamroy playing with memorable use of several of the breathtaking Mexican towns having his “DeLuxe” color photos.
Incidentally, this artwork ostentatiousness is actually a change to possess director King, whose films hasn’t been therefore visually dynamic before; whether or not he’s brought huge specs with Tyrone Stamina, since it is with the Business directors out of yore, he was a beneficial proponent out of “invisible” layout, just who liked to store the camera moves or other visual pyrotechnics on lowest, and you may focuses on informing a beneficial story for the a straightforward trend. Which improvement in his filmmaking looks are needless to say influenced by new minutes and additionally by works out of administrators including Mann and you will Ford.
The first choice, additionally the most educated of gang try Statement Zachary (Stephen Boyd), a beneficial lecherous womanizer- and also as their earlier (and you may upcoming) steps usually confirm he may really well enjoys contributed the physical violence on the Douglass’ spouse
Douglass is actually prevented only beyond your town by deputy Sheriff, who takes their firearms and you will escorts him so you’re able to urban area; yet another security scale adopted of the urban area sheriff, Eloy Sanchez (Herbert Rudley) as very following day is the dangling of one’s four outlaws and then he does not want one disturbance. The people on town are incredibly towards the boundary and you will the clear presence of that it mystical complete stranger disturbs them further, specifically once the laconic Douglass volunteers almost no details about whom he is, and you may what’s the intent behind their see. Douglass desires an audience on the outlaws and you can sheriff lets your to achieve that. Douglass try contributed on the prison telephone carrying the fresh men, and then he happens one on one on the four whom he believes killed his wife.
Douglass discusses all of them with dislike-occupied attention and you can thy review puzzled- because they have not viewed one another in advance of. Brand new doomed men are a mix of contrasts; the latest filmmakers manage a reasonable little bit of characterization from inside the restricted quantity of monitor-day offered to identify one in the most other that will be crucial while the movie moves on. Next was Ed Taylor (Albert Salmi): even more rooted, laconic in fact it is an informed take to of the pile.