Classic, grim-faced western, with Gregory Peck (in a role originally sought by John Wayne) as the gunfighter trying (and inevitably failing) to run away from his past.

It carries a surprising feeling of authenticity for a western of this period and there are good supporting portrayals from Millard Mitchell, Karl Malden and (as two gun-happy punks) Richard Jaeckel and Skip Homeier.

Studio executives at 20th Century-Fox are said to have blamed the film's indifferent box-office performance on the fact that Peck wore a moustache!