Gregory Peck portrays “Stretch,” heading a group of bank robbers pursued by cavalry soldiers until they stumble upon an abandoned gold mining settlement. The only inhabitants are a young woman, "Mike," played by Anne Baxter, and her grandfather, James Barton. Exhausted from their journey across the salt flats, the robbers find refreshment and quickly turn their attention to both the young woman and the prospect of finding gold. Following several amusing encounters, “Stretch” and the spirited woman begin to develop a connection and agree to share their treasure—approximately $50,000—evenly. However, retrieving it requires digging through a collapsed mine shaft. Richard Widmark, as "Dude," is skeptical of this arrangement, and as they continue excavating, the arrival of a frustrated Apache tribe further erodes any sense of trust among the robbers. William Wellman’s direction and Joe MacDonald's cinematography effectively capture the harshness of the Death Valley setting, where the environment enhances the characters’ difficulties; the dialogue is minimal, allowing action to drive the story forward. While the conclusion feels somewhat hurried, and Baxter’s performance occasionally evokes a comparison to "Calamity Jane"—albeit without musical numbers—the film's overall atmosphere makes it worthwhile viewing.

Source on TMDB