SYNOPSIS
While passing through the town of Bannock, a bunch of drunken, trail-weary cattlemen go overboard with their celebrating and accidentally kill an old man with a stray shot. They return home to Sabbath unaware of his death. Bannock lawman Jered Maddox later arrives there to arrest everyone involved on a charge of murder. Sabbath is run by land baron Vince Bronson, a benevolent despot, who, upon hearing of the death, offers restitution for the incident. Maddox, however, will not compromise even though small ranchers like Vern Adams are not in a position to desert their responsibilities for a long and protracted trial. Sabbath's marshal, Cotton Ryan, is an aging lawman whose tough reputation rests on a single incident that occurred years before. Ryan admits to being only a shadow of what he once was and incapable of stopping Maddox. Maddox confides to Ryan that Bannock's judicial system is weak and corrupt, and while he's doubtful that anyone he brings back will suffer more than the ...
- Burt LancasterBannock Marshal Jared Maddox
- Robert RyanSabbath Cotton Ryan
- Lee J. CobbVincent Bronson
- Robert DuvallVernon Adams
- Sheree NorthLaura Shelby
- Albert SalmiHarvey Stenbaugh
- Richard JordanCrowe Wheelwright
- John McGiverSabbath Mayor Sam Bolden
- Ralph WaiteJack Dekker
- John BeckJason Bronson
- William WatsonChoctaw Lee
- Walter BrookeLuther Harris
- Robert EmhardtHersham
- Charles TynerMinister
- J.D. CannonHurd Price
- Lou FrizzellCobden
- Richard BullDusaine
- John HillermanTotts
- Roy EngelBartender
- Jan Burrell
- Madeleine Taylor Holmes
- Hugh McDermottL.G. Moss
- Joyce PerryWidow Corman
- Joseph WisemanLucas
- Wilford BrimleyMarc Corman