Gregory Peck and Carroll Baker star in this classic Western based on the novel by Donald Hamilton. When sea captain Jim McKay (Peck) forgoes a life on the ocean waves and travels west to claim his bride Patricia Terrill (Baker), he finds more trouble than he bargained for. The Terrill family are embroiled in a bitter feud over water rights with a rival clan headed by Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives). Both parties want access to land which belongs to Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons), and as their squabbling escalates, Jim and Julie find themselves caught up in the middle, doing their best to calm things down.