The Broken Land

The Broken Land

Year: 1962

Runtime: 60 mins

Language: English

Director: John A. Bushelman

Western

A lone cowboy rides into a tightly‑run small town dominated by a ruthless, corrupt sheriff. He soon falls for a pretty young local woman and aligns with townsfolk plotting to overthrow the tyrant. Their rebellion sparks a robbery and a murder, forcing the cowboy into a deadly chase by the sheriff’s vengeful posse.

The Broken Land (1962) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

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In the waning years of the 1870s, the frontier stretches across a scar‑scarred landscape where old wars still echo in the dust. A tightly‑run small town clings to a fragile order, its streets humming with the uneasy rhythm of men who have seen too much violence and too little peace. The atmosphere is heavy with grit and a lingering sense of dread, a place where every saloon door seems to hold its breath and the horizon promises both freedom and danger.

Into this world rides Gabe Dunson, a lone cowboy whose past is as weathered as the tumbleweeds that trail his horse. He quickly encounters Billy, a naïve young man who works at the general store and quietly dreams of a better life, and Marva Aikens, the town’s spirited waitress whose presence lights the dim interior of the local eatery. The town’s authority rests in the iron‑fisted grip of Jim Cogan, a sheriff whose reputation for cruelty precedes him, casting a shadow over every interaction. A fourth figure, Will Broicous, bears the legacy of a famed gunfighter, adding another layer of tension to the already volatile mix.

When Gabe finds himself drawn into the lives of these residents, the simmering resentment toward the sheriff begins to surface. Friendships form, loyalties are tested, and the townsfolk’s collective yearning for justice sets the stage for a confrontation that could reshape the community. The story promises a tense dance between law and rebellion, where the frontier’s unforgiving landscape mirrors the inner battles of each character, inviting the audience to wonder how far a lone rider will go when the weight of a whole town rests on his shoulders.

Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 23:50

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Westerns about tyranny and rebellion like The Broken Land

Underdog stories of small towns fighting back against a corrupt ruler.If you liked The Broken Land, explore more movies like it where a tight-knit town must rise up against a corrupt authority figure. These tense Westerns feature desperate townsfolk, a morally-driven outsider, and a fast-paced story of revolt and frontier justice.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread follow a clear pattern: a stranger arrives in an oppressed town, uncovers deep-seated corruption, and becomes the catalyst for a rebellion. The conflict escalates quickly from tension to open violence, culminating in a final, decisive confrontation to topple the tyrant.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the classic 'good versus evil' dynamic in a Western setting, their high-intensity pacing driven by immediate threats, and their exploration of communal courage against overwhelming oppression.

Tense chase movies like The Broken Land

Desperate characters on the run, hunted by a relentless force.For viewers who enjoyed the manhunt and fugitive storyline in The Broken Land, this section features similar movies with desperate chases. These films share a fast pace, high tension, and a focus on survival against a relentless pursuer, across genres like thrillers, Westerns, and action dramas.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is a linear pursuit: a triggering event forces the main character to flee, initiating a cat-and-mouse game across a hostile landscape. The story is propelled by set pieces of capture and escape, building tension until a final, often violent, resolution between hunter and hunted.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core structure of a relentless chase, which creates a consistently tense and fast-paced viewing experience. The emotional driver is a mix of desperation and determination, as the fugitive fights for survival and often, redemption.

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The Broken Land Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Broken Land

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Broken Land

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