The Violent Men

John Parrish, a former Union cavalry officer, has been living out west to recover from a lung wound. He plans to sell his land to Anchor Ranch and move back east with his fiancée Caroline Vail. His quiet resolve is shattered when he witnesses Wade Matlock gun down the town sheriff, a brutal act that unsettles everyone.

Anchor Ranch owner Lew Wilkison makes a lowball offer for Parrish's ranch and gives him 24 hours to respond. He resents the encroachment of farm settlers on the valley and intends to push Parrish out.

After weighing his options, Parrish agrees to sell the ranch, partly due to Caroline's insistence and her desire to see them settled. He agrees reluctantly and sets in motion the sale.

Wade Matlock murders the son of a 'nester,' a local farm settler. Parrish's men race into town for revenge, but Parrish tells them to stand down and says the new sheriff is ready to arrest them.

Parrish goes to the saloon, requests Wade surrender; Wade laughs. Parrish slaps his face, grabs Wade's shooting hand, and shoots him as Wade fires; Parrish exits the saloon before Lew's men can react.

The next day Parrish rides to Anchor Ranch and tells Lew that his land is not for sale. He warns Cole and Lew that if they force him to fight, he will fight his way.

Martha, Lew's wife, carries on with her husband's brother Cole, who also has a Mexican girlfriend. Cole decides to pull out and goes into town to see his girlfriend. The tension at Anchor grows as the family drama plays out.

Led by Cole, Lew's men burn Parrish's ranch to push him out. Parrish, though, had anticipated the attack and watches from hiding as the buildings burn.

Parrish and his men ambush Cole and Lew's men in the hills, killing eight of them. They then retreat to the hills to regroup.

Parrish's plan triggers a stampede of Lew's horses and cattle, forcing Lew's men off the ranch to handle the livestock. Parrish's men then set fire to the Anchor ranch house, leaving Lew and Martha trapped.

Lew survives the fire, crawling from the burning house. Martha and Cole assemble a small army with help from the sheriff to purge the nesters and reclaim the valley. Their plan signals that the fight is far from over.

Judith finds Lew alive and takes him to the hills where Parrish and his men are hiding. This alliance-shifting moment ties Judith to Parrish's side as she reunites with her father.

Cole and Martha return with the army to confront Parrish and Lew, only to discover Martha is the real villain. The sheriff confirms Lew is alive and orders the army to leave the property.

Parrish confronts Cole in a final duel, and Cole is shot and killed. Martha watches in horror as Lew and Judith arrive, and she flees only to be shot by Cole's Mexican girlfriend seeking revenge.

In town, Judith asks Parrish to run Anchor, but he declines, saying he has his own ranch to rebuild. After a moment, he returns to Judith and they ride off together as two seasoned hands.