The basic conflict is ranchers against the sheep farmers who are settling in what was previously open range. The thing that made me want to see this movie was the fact that the settlers were Amish who had moved to Montana from Ohio.
Ben Yoder, an Amish farmer with a lovely Amish wife, Rebecca Yoder, whose bonnet always sits far back on her head, goes off to help some sheep in trouble and runs into conflict with the neighboring rancher who wants to buy his land. When Ben refuses, Fergus Hunter has Ben hung and claims he was stealing cattle. The sheriff is in Hunter's pocket, so nothing is done. Ben's young son, Benjo, witnesses the hanging and is psychologically impacted to the point of no longer being able to speak.
Rebecca continues to operate the farm and is courted by Noah Weaver, a neighboring Amish widower. One day while doing chores an injured man wanders on to Rebecca's property and collapses. Johnny Gault turns out to be a gunfighter with a horrible background. Of course, Rebecca takes him in, and with the help of Doctor Henry nurses him back to health.
Rebecca learns of Gault's difficult past, and Gault learns about the "Plain People" as they are called in the film. Gault also develops a close relationship with Benjo. Gault drives off Hunter and his men when they come to intimidate Rebecca to sell.
Gault goes along to a worship service in a barn, and muses about the strange singing, etc. (These Amish speak English, but their singing matches the pace of Amish singing today.) After the service ends some of Hunter's men drive a cattle herd past the barn, almost killing Benjo. There is another confrontation between Gault and one of the men who hung Ben Yoder.
The relationship between Gault and Rebecca develops where they recognize their love for one another. As they are consummating their love, an Amish neighbor woman walks in on them. Rebecca is then faced with the choice of confessing to the church and having Gault leave immediately, or being shunned. She goes to the meeting, but declares her love for Gault and walks out. Johnny Gault and Rebecca Yoder get married, and Noah Weaver comes to inform her that she is now shunned.
A bit later after another incident with the rancher's thugs, there is a final confrontation between Gault, Hunter, and two of Hunter's men. Rebecca warns Gault about one of the men sneaking up behind him, and is shot herself in the process. Hunter and both men are killed by Gault. While waiting to see if Rebecca will live or die, Gault throws his handgun into the fire. Rebecca lives, and we last see them riding out of town back to their farm.
It was an interesting film, and better quality than I expected. The portrayal of the "Plain People" is stereotyped and not nuanced at all. As usual in such films. Violence is required in order to achieve peace.
Ben Yoder, an Amish farmer with a lovely Amish wife, Rebecca Yoder, whose bonnet always sits far back on her head, goes off to help some sheep in trouble and runs into conflict with the neighboring rancher who wants to buy his land. When Ben refuses, Fergus Hunter has Ben hung and claims he was stealing cattle. The sheriff is in Hunter's pocket, so nothing is done. Ben's young son, Benjo, witnesses the hanging and is psychologically impacted to the point of no longer being able to speak.
Rebecca continues to operate the farm and is courted by Noah Weaver, a neighboring Amish widower. One day while doing chores an injured man wanders on to Rebecca's property and collapses. Johnny Gault turns out to be a gunfighter with a horrible background. Of course, Rebecca takes him in, and with the help of Doctor Henry nurses him back to health.
Rebecca learns of Gault's difficult past, and Gault learns about the "Plain People" as they are called in the film. Gault also develops a close relationship with Benjo. Gault drives off Hunter and his men when they come to intimidate Rebecca to sell.
Gault goes along to a worship service in a barn, and muses about the strange singing, etc. (These Amish speak English, but their singing matches the pace of Amish singing today.) After the service ends some of Hunter's men drive a cattle herd past the barn, almost killing Benjo. There is another confrontation between Gault and one of the men who hung Ben Yoder.
The relationship between Gault and Rebecca develops where they recognize their love for one another. As they are consummating their love, an Amish neighbor woman walks in on them. Rebecca is then faced with the choice of confessing to the church and having Gault leave immediately, or being shunned. She goes to the meeting, but declares her love for Gault and walks out. Johnny Gault and Rebecca Yoder get married, and Noah Weaver comes to inform her that she is now shunned.
A bit later after another incident with the rancher's thugs, there is a final confrontation between Gault, Hunter, and two of Hunter's men. Rebecca warns Gault about one of the men sneaking up behind him, and is shot herself in the process. Hunter and both men are killed by Gault. While waiting to see if Rebecca will live or die, Gault throws his handgun into the fire. Rebecca lives, and we last see them riding out of town back to their farm.
It was an interesting film, and better quality than I expected. The portrayal of the "Plain People" is stereotyped and not nuanced at all. As usual in such films. Violence is required in order to achieve peace.