This dark and grim lynch-mob drama deserves to be in everyone's top ten Westerns list.

When a wealthy rancher is killed by rustlers, the men in the nearby town are whipped up into a self-righteous fury, form a posse and ride off in search of the villains.

They come upon three drifters who have 50 head of cattle bearing the murdered man's brand, which they claim they bought.

To the posse, their guilt is obvious...

Henry Fonda gives a powerful and compassionate performance as a reluctant member of the posse and Dana Andrews, until this known only as a player of light comedies, took another step towards major stardom with his portrayal of one of the accused.

This was a pet project for director William A Wellman who fought long and hard to make it.

Deservedly a classic, the film remained one of Wellman's favourites.