Roughshod

Roughshod

Year: 1949

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Mark Robson

Western

“Sure I’m from the wrong side of town…that’s where I learned to handle guys like you!” Rancher Clay and his brother Steve ride across the Sonora mountain pass, chased by Lednov, an ex‑convict bent on revenge after Clay jailed him. They encounter a stranded stagecoach of dance‑hall girls—Mary, Marcia and Helen—and guide them to the nearest ranch, where Lednov finally catches up with Clay.

Roughshod (1949) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the dry, sun‑blasted expanses of the Sonora mountain pass, the frontier lives on the edge of myth and hardship. The landscape rolls with rocky ridges, dust‑laced winds and the occasional clang of distant mining claims, setting a tone that is both rugged and restless. It is a place where the line between law and lawlessness blurs, and where every traveler carries the weight of their own past.

The story follows Clay Phillips, a seasoned rancher whose hands are as calloused as the terrain he rides, and his younger brother Steve, full of restless energy and still‑green ambition. Bound by blood and a shared vision of a future beyond the range, the brothers move their modest herd toward the promise of a new start. Their camaraderie is steady, yet the road tests their resolve, offering quiet moments of brotherly teaching and the unspoken question of what each will become when the trail ends.

Unseen but ever‑present is the shadow of Lednov, an ex‑convict whose vendetta against Clay sets a quiet menace into motion. The pursuit is less a high‑octane chase than a lingering pressure that hangs over the riders, a reminder that the past can ride alongside you on any trail. The tension between the brothers and their pursuer lends the journey an undercurrent of unease, even as the wilderness stretches out in indifferent grandeur.

Amid the looming threat, a rattling stagecoach stalls on the pass, its occupants a troupe of spirited dance‑hall women. Mary steps forward as the de‑facto leader, with Marcia and Helen adding their own flavors of hope and desperation. The brothers’ decision to guide the stranded party toward the nearest ranch weaves together disparate lives, hinting at clashing personalities, quiet bravery, and the fragile bonds that can form when strangers share a perilous road. The film balances this emerging alliance against the ever‑present danger, creating a mood that is at once tense, wistful, and undeniably Western.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:46

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Stories where characters are hunted across harsh landscapes, with danger closing in.If you liked the relentless pursuit in Roughshod, you'll enjoy these movies featuring characters hunted across dangerous terrain. Discover similar tense Westerns and thrillers where survival hinges on outsmarting a vengeful enemy.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a linear journey, often across a vast and unforgiving setting, with a pursuer providing a constant source of conflict and escalating tension. The plot is driven by the cat-and-mouse dynamic, testing the resolve and resourcefulness of the protagonists.

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Movies in this thread share a core structure of pursuit, creating a consistent tone of high tension and suspense. They feature similar pacing, with a steady forward momentum driven by the threat, and often explore themes of survival, revenge, and justice.

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Narrative Summary

A primary plot of conflict or survival (like a revenge quest) provides the tense framework, while a secondary, character-driven romance unfolds gradually. The relationship often faces obstacles rooted in the setting, such as class differences or past trauma, leading to a bittersweet or hard-won resolution.

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These films are grouped by their distinct emotional blend: a tense, often violent main plot intertwined with a developing romance that adds depth and hope. They share a steady pacing that allows the relationship to feel earned, and a bittersweet tone that acknowledges the costs of their world.

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Roughshod

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