Story :In the mid-19th century, Senator William J. Tadlock leads a group of settlers overland in a quest to start a new settlement in the Western US. Tadlock is a highly principled and demanding taskmaster who is as hard on himself as he is on those who have joined his wagon train. He clashes with one of the new settlers, Lije Evans, who doesn't quite appreciate Tadlock's ways. Along the way, the families must face death and heartbreak and a sampling of frontier justice when one of them accidentally kills a young Indian boy.
Cast
Kirk DouglasSen. William J. Tadlock
Robert MitchumDick Summers
Richard WidmarkLije Evans
Lola AlbrightRebecca 'Becky' Evans
Jack ElamPreacher Weatherby
Stubby KayeSam Fairman
Michael McGreeveyBrownie Evans
Harry Carey, Jr.Mr. McBee
Connie SawyerMrs. McBee
Michael WitneyJohnnie Mack
William LundiganMichael Moynihan
Elisabeth FraserMrs. Fairman
John MitchumLittle Henry
Patric KnowlesCaptain Grant
Hal LynchBig Henry
Timothy ScottMiddle Henry
Roy GlennSaunders
Paul LukatherMr. Turley
Stefan ArngrimWilliam J. Tadlock Jr.
Roy BarcroftMr. Masters
Eve McVeaghMrs. Masters
Peggy StewartMrs. Turley
Anne BartonMrs. Moynihan
Nick CravatCalvelli
Michael KeepIndian Brave
Mike LaneSioux Chief (as Michael Lane)
Sally FieldMercy McBee
Katherine JusticeAmanda Mack
Paul WexlerBarber (uncredited)
Jack CofferCattleman (uncredited)
Everett CreachCattleman (uncredited)
Sam ElliottMissouri Townsman (uncredited)
Clarke GordonCaleb Greenwood (uncredited)
Hollis HillBagpiper at Fort Hall (uncredited)
Eddie Little SkySioux Warrior (uncredited)
Gary MorrisPaw-Kee Mah (uncredited)
Mitchell SchollarsIndian Boy (uncredited)
Hector SmithBagpiper at Fort Hall (uncredited)
Rex TrailerCowboy Asking About Bethel Bartholomew (uncredited)