Western drama starring Kirk Douglas as wandering cowboy Dempsey Rae. Along with his friend Jeff Jimson (William Campbell), Rae finds work at Triangle Ranch, owned by the ambitious Miss Reed Bowman (Jeanne Crain). When Rae discovers Bowman's plan to expand her territory by cutting off the land belonging to other ranchers, he decides to pull out of his employment, but he inevitably finds himself caught up in a ranch war with Jimson on the opposing side.