A determined marshal tracks down a murderous gang to a hostile town, where he encounters resistance from every quarter while trying to bring the fugitives to justice. Michael Winner's Western, starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Duvall, Lee J Cobb, Robert Ryan and Sheree North.

While passing through the town of Bannock, a bunch of drunken 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.