The Lusty Men

While competing in the rodeo circuit, Jeff McCloud is injured when a Brahma bull gores him. This accident prompts him to leave the rodeo world behind and drift aimlessly. The injury marks a turning point in his life, forcing him to reconsider his future and abandon professional rodeo.

Hitchhiking to Bandera, Texas, Jeff discovers a dilapidated yet idyllic small house owned by a poor old man. The house reminds him of his youth, but he cannot afford to buy it due to his penniless condition. This site evokes memories and a longing for simpler times.

Wes Merritt and his wife Louise are seen working tirelessly to save enough money from Wes’s meager cowhand wages to buy the small farm. Wes recognizes Jeff as a former rodeo champion, leading to a friendship and mutual respect. Wes is eager to improve his rodeo skills and pursue professional success.

Wes enters a local rodeo without his wife Louise knowing, performing well enough to venture into the big professional circuit. Jeff becomes his trainer and partner, aiming to help Wes succeed and achieve larger prize money. The decision marks the start of Wes's rising career.

Louise is worried about Wes risking his safety and the couple's stable life as he pursues rodeo fame and fortune. Despite her objections, Wes commits to his rodeo career after promising to quit once they save enough for their dream house. Tensions grow over the dangerous lifestyle.

Wes quickly gains fame and success in rodeo competitions, showing talent and promising potential. However, he begins to enjoy the fame and gambling lifestyle more than the prize money, becoming increasingly boastful and party-oriented. Louise observes this change with growing concern.

Veteran rodeo rider Buster Burgess is gored and killed by a bull, leaving behind a bitter widow. This tragic event underscores the risks involved in rodeo life and affects Louise deeply, making her even more anxious about Wes’s participation in dangerous events.

As Wes continues to compete and win, he becomes more arrogant and starts spending his winnings irresponsibly. Louise, tired of the danger and the reckless behavior, begins staying home more often, feeling disconnected from her husband's obsession with rodeo fame.

Wealthy and flirtatious Babs makes a second attempt to attract Wes’s attention, after an initial rejection by Louise. She tries to seduce him, but Louise intervenes by pouring a drink on Babs and asserting her loyalty. The incident highlights the tensions and temptations surrounding Wes.

Jeff confesses his feelings for Louise and asks if she could love another man, while she reveals her loyalty to Wes. Despite her feelings growing for Jeff, she remains devoted to her husband, reaffirming her commitment amidst the growing strain in their relationship.

Rebuffed by Wes, Jeff impulsively resumes rodeo competition despite being out of shape. He quickly impresses the crowd and earns back Wes’s respect by performing well in the early events, rekindling his old skill and determination.

Jeff attempts bronc riding but gets his foot caught in the stirrup. He is violently dragged and crushed when the horse falls and rolls over him. In her arms, Louise comforts Jeff as he recites his motto, but he succumbs to his injuries and dies from a punctured lung.

Wes arrives just after Jeff’s tragic accident and is devastated to hear of his friend's death. Moved by the loss, he decides to quit rodeo entirely, recognizing the dangers involved and choosing to leave that life behind.

Wes and Louise, along with Booker and his daughter, leave behind the rodeo world and head back to Bandera, Texas. They seek a simpler, safer life, closing the chapter on their rodeo pursuits and embracing a new beginning grounded in their small farm.