Joel McCrea plays “Bannon,” who finds himself caught up in trouble when he and his horse encounter cattle rustlers that leave him for dead. He’s later found by a wagon train, and while recovering, assists them in locating an ideal riverside area to establish their settlement. However, the pioneers face a problem: the land is already claimed, and they aren't being permitted to stay. “Bannon” has past dealings with the…

The story is familiar—predictable and competently handled, though viewers should be aware of how severely it’s been cropped by pan and scan. Thomas Carr directed The Tall Stranger, which Christopher Knopf adapted from a Louis L'Amour story. Joel McCrea, Virginia Mayo, Michael Ansara, George Neise, Whit Bissell, Adam Kennedy, Barry Kelley, and Leo Gordon appear in the film. This CinemaScope/De Luxe color production…