First off, this was a horrible quality DVD--all fuzzy and washed out and greatly in need of restoration. Fortunately, a Blu-Ray version is being released in a little over a week.

This is an unusual Marlon Brando film because in addition to starring, he directed the movie. However, according to IMDb, the studio was shocked when he delivered a five-hour plus film and drastically edited it. The finished edited version is a slowly unfolding film--so in hindsight it's probably good the film was edited. I just can't imagine the film strung out to five hours.

The film begins with Brando and his two partners robbing a bank in Mexico. Soon, the law arrives and kills one of them. The two survivors (Brando and Karl Malden) escape into the desert. They are pinned down and Malden leaves to get horses so they can escape. However, Malden appeared to have just run off and left his friend to the authorities--and Brando is sent to prison. Five years later, he escapes and is looking for Malden to exact revenge. Ironically, however, Malden has re-written himself--and is a sheriff. Now this makes for a rather interesting reunion! What's even more interesting is that Malden seems to have Brando fooled--and Malden treats him like a friend. At Malden's home, Brando then falls in love with Malden's step-daughter (Pina Pellicer). Now what is going to happen? While I could tell you more, I don't want to spoil it--but there is A LOT more to this film than this.

Generally, this is a very good western. My one criticism is that both Malden and Brando play men who just aren't all that bright. They both have great opportunities to end their rivalry once and for all---yet let their enemy escape. In real life, I just can't see this happening--especially when one vows to the other "...one day I'll kill you"---and yet the other guy lets him escape!! Any sane person would have just shot him in the face and be done with it! Also, the relationship between Brando and Pellicer seemed a bit unlikely, as they fall madly in love but their motivation seems a bit lacking.

Now these are minor complaints. Otherwise, it's a good film--one of the better westerns of the era. Good acting (particularly by Malden) and an interesting plot make this one worth seeing.

By the way, at the end of the film, while Brando is in jail, there's a dog in there with him. I wonder what HIS crime was (I mean the dog)? Also, I saw this film with my wife and she hated the original ending that I read from the SPOILER on IMDb's trivia--I think it sounded great! But, the studio thought this downbeat ending would irritate audiences--and it probably would have--though it would have given the film a nice twist.