The Man from Colorado

The Man from Colorado

Year: 1948

Runtime: 100 mins

Language: English

Director: Henry Levin

DramaWestern

Two former soldiers return to Colorado after being discharged from the Union army at the end of the Civil War. One of them is haunted by the war, his mental state unraveling into erratic, increasingly violent behavior. When a woman enters their lives, the strain deepens, and his friend must confront both his comrade’s trauma and the dangerous love triangle in a desperate effort to save him.

The Man from Colorado (1948) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Man from Colorado (1948) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the wind‑scoured valleys of post‑Civil War Colorado, the frontier hums with the uneasy promise of peace. Towns are still stitching together order from the remnants of battle, and the wide‑open landscape holds both the raw beauty of the West and the lingering shadows of a conflict that has only just ended.

At the story’s core stands Colonel Owen Devereaux, a former Union officer now shouldering the responsibilities of civic authority, and his longtime companion Sergeant Jericho Howard, a man whose nerves are still rattled by the war’s echo. Their bond, forged in fire, now strains under the weight of unspoken doubts and a growing sense that the lines between justice and personal grievance are beginning to blur. The tone is one of simmering tension, a western drama that feels as much about inner turmoil as it does about dusty streets and rugged horizons.

Into this fragile equilibrium rides Caroline Emmet, a poised and determined woman whose arrival sparks a dangerous shift. Her presence awakens feelings long buried, turning loyalty into rivalry and forcing each man to confront the ghosts he carries. The emerging love triangle becomes a crucible for examining devotion, ambition, and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect—or lose—themselves.

Alongside them moves Del Stewart, a steadfast ally torn between his friendship and an emerging moral compass. As the three navigate saloons, endless plains, and the quiet moments when the past whispers, the film paints a portrait of a world where true battles are often fought within. The mood remains grounded in stark western realism, laced with emotional undercurrents that suggest peace, like a gunfight at high noon, can be precariously brief.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 09:48

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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.

Movies about friendship and trauma like The Man from Colorado

Intimate stories where shared history is fractured by one friend's psychological collapse.If you liked the dynamic of loyalty and moral conflict in The Man from Colorado, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar stories where deep friendships are tested by the corrosive effects of trauma, psychological unraveling, and the heavy burden of trying to save someone from themselves.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative typically follows two close friends, often bonded by a shared past experience like war. The psychological damage sustained by one begins to manifest in erratic, paranoid, or violent behavior, placing the other in an impossible position. The story charts the stable friend's escalating attempts to help, leading to a confrontation that irrevocably changes or severs their bond.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the emotional core of a friendship cracking under the weight of untreated trauma. They share a heavy emotional weight, a dark or tense tone, and a steady pacing that allows for a methodical exploration of character deterioration and moral conflict.

Post-war corruption stories like The Man from Colorado

Stories of soldiers returning home, only to find the battle for their soul has just begun.For viewers seeking movies like The Man from Colorado that explore the dark side of homecoming. This list includes similar films about soldiers returning from war, haunted by trauma, whose psychological wounds lead them to betray the very justice and peace they fought to protect.

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Narrative Summary

The pattern begins with a soldier's return from a brutal conflict, carrying unseen psychological wounds. They often assume a role of authority (sheriff, judge, leader) in their community. Their trauma manifests as a rigid, paranoid, or violent interpretation of justice, turning them into a tyrannical figure. The plot escalates as a former comrade or loved one is forced to confront them, culminating in a confrontation that highlights the tragic cost of war.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the potent theme of how war trauma perverts justice and corrupts power. They share a grim, oppressive mood, a high intensity driven by moral outrage, and a bittersweet or bleak ending that acknowledges the lasting scars of conflict, both personal and societal.

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The Man from Colorado Summary

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The Man from Colorado Summary

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The Man from Colorado Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Man from Colorado

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Man from Colorado

More About The Man from Colorado

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