Rancher Clay and his brother, Steve, head out across the Sonora mountain pass, followed by Lednov, an ex-con seeking revenge on Clay for putting him behind bars. Clay and Steve unexpectedly cross paths with a group of dance hall girls -- including Mary, Marcia and Helen -- whose stagecoach has broken down, and help them get to the nearest ranch, where Lednov unfortunately catches up to Clay.
Acting
Gloria Grahame's wounded swagger steals every frame.
Direction
Robson turns a broken stagecoach into claustrophobic dread.
Cinematography
Sonora mountains shot like they want to swallow everyone.
Director
Mark Robson
Robert Sterling
Clay Phillips
Gloria Grahame
Mary Wells
Claude Jarman Jr.
Steve Phillips
John Ireland
Lednov
Jeff Donnell
Elaine Wyatt
Myrna Dell
Helen Carter
Martha Hyer
Marcia
George Cooper
Jim Clayton
Jeff Corey
Jed Graham
Sara Haden
Ma Wyatt
James Bell
Pa (Ed) Wyatt
Sean McClory
Fowler
Robert B. Williams
McCall
Ed Cassidy
Sheriff Gardner
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Mark Robson edited Citizen Kane and Cat People before directing; you can feel the Val Lewton shadow in every shadow.
Gloria Grahame was in her 'fallen woman redemption arc' era — this came between her Oscar win and her noir queen peak.
US
