Plot Synopsis

The notorious shootist and womanizer Quirt Evans’ horse collapses as he passes a Quaker family’s home. Quirt has been wounded and the kindly family takes him in and nurses him back to health against the advice of others.

The handsome Evans quickly attracts the affections of their beautiful but sheltered daughter, Penelope. He develops an affection for the family but his troubled past follows him there, both outlaws and the law.

Evans falls for Penelope and begins to assimilate her pacifist lifestyle. However, the tug of his old ways is very strong and so he vacillates back and forth. He is finally forced to examine his character after his violent actions bring harm to an innocent person.

This movie is the point of departure for two other successful “fish out of water” movies, the 1985 “Witness” starring Harrison Ford and the 2003 “The Outsider” starring Tim Daly and Naomi Watts, both of which have a similar story line.

It was filmed in Monument Valley, Arizona and is available on DVD.

Stick Figure Theater, a feature on Liquid Television, made a stick figure version of the bar scene from the movie.

Cast

• John Wayne – Quirt Evans
• Gail Russell – Penelope Worth
• Harry Carey – McClintock
• Bruce Cabot – Laredo Stevens
• Irene Rich – Mrs. Worth
• Lee Dixon – Randy McCall
• Stephen Grant – Johnny Worth
• Tom Powers – Dr. Mangram
• Paul Hurst – Frederick Carson
• Olin Howland – Bradley (billed as Olin Howlin)
• John Halloran – Thomas Worth