Summary
Three outlaws who have all been burned by women decide to head West and stay single. Instead, they find a girl whose father was just killed and end up protecting her gold mine claim during a massive land rush.
Synopsis
In 1877, thieves Ace Beaudry, Bronco Dawson and Bull Stanley head West together after having each been betrayed by a woman. They come across a wagon train bound for the town of Custer, where hundreds of people are gathering for a land rush in the Dakotas, which President Ulysses S. Grant has opened to settlers thanks to a treaty with the Sioux Indians. After the three rogues ride off, they spy a lone wagon with a tempting string of thoroughbreds. Before they can steal the horses, however, the wagon is attacked by a gang led by Layne Hunter, a shifty saloon owner from Custer. The trio chase off the gang, and as they are about to abscond with the horses, they find pretty Lee Carleton, whose father was killed in the attack. Believing that the men are her rescuers, Lee tells them that she and her father were traveling to Custer to file a claim on a gold mine. Bull and his pals escort Lee to Custer and help her set up camp in preparation for the next morning's land rush. Determined to get their hands on the gold mine, the trio decides that one of them must marry Lee. They cut cards to see who will propose first, and Bronco, much to his dismay, wins. Lee gently turns him down, telling him that he is like a brother to her. She tells the same thing to Ace and then to Bull, who is genuinely interested in her. He confesses that he and his friends "ain't exactly gentlemen," but her faith in them is not swayed. Meanwhile, Hunter's henchman Nelson spies on the group and learns of the map. Bronco and Ace decide to find Lee a husband whom they can kill after he gains the title to the mine, and they search for an eligible candidate in the saloon. They return with Bull to the camp, where they see Lee kissing her fiancé, Bruce Randall, who has come from the East. Overjoyed that the map will soon be owned by a fair competitor, the men bid Lee goodnight and promise to treat Bruce "like a gold mine." Hunter and his men capture Lee in the night, however, then steal her map, and send some of their numbers to cross the line before the land rush and block the pass, while Hunter remains waiting for the signal to cross the line legally. Bull and Bruce rescue Lee from the saloon, and Lee, knowing the map by heart, leads the men on a furious ride to the mine. Hunter and his men and the team of Bull, Bronco, Ace and Bruce shoot it out until Hunter's men ride off and Bull topples Hunter off a cliff. Lee thanks her friends and offers to share her claim with them. Just then, Marshal Dunn is sighted, and the trio of Bull, Ace and Bronco wave goodbye and ride away as Lee and Bruce smile and wish them well.
Review Excerpt
"Is it worth your time?
If you like old movies where the heroes are actually kind of idiots, then yes. You should watch this today if you have a soft spot for 1930s dust and guys who grumble about women while doing exactly what a woman tells them to do.
Modern action fans will probably hate it because the pacing is all over the place. But if you want to see Victor McLaglen looking like a giant, confused potato, this is for you. 🤠
The movie starts with these three guys—Ace, Bronco, and Bull—who ..."