The Ballad of a Gunfighter 1964

As an orchestra swells with the El Paso melody, Marty Marty Robbins rides his white horse over rugged terrain. He spots a group of men along the road, passes them, and comes to a rocky outcrop beside the road. A stagecoach rolls by, and Marty vaults onto the roof, has the driver drop a strongbox to the ground, then shoots the lock, gathers the sacks of gold, and rides away. The pursuers close in, but he eludes them and keeps moving.

Marty rides into the town of San Angelo, where Miguelito Michael Davis rushes up to tend to his tired horse. He dismounts and, as Miguelito watches the animal, Marty tosses a sack onto the street and tells the boy that someone must have lost some money, so Miguelito should take it to the Padre Nestor Paiva to give to the poor.

He then steps into Felina’s cantina, where he buys drinks for everyone and announces he has gifts for all the girls who work there. One of the workers is Secora Joyce Redd. Alan McCord [Robert Barron], a crooked businessman, tries to recruit Marty, proposing a joint venture since Marty was born nearby and knows the terrain, but Marty refuses the offer.

Later, Marty rides with Secora to the river. When they reach the water, Secora begins undressing, but Marty stops her, telling her she should be ashamed for removing clothing in front of a man. Secora explains that men have taken advantage of her since she was a girl and that she is no longer a lady. Marty goes to see the Padre, who says Secora comes to the church throughout the week to pray and reminds Marty that stealing is always wrong.

The local lawman Sam reports that Marty got to the gold before Alan’s men could steal it. Alan notes that the townspeople like Marty and would hate anyone who kills him. Marty brings more presents for the cantina girls, and Secora is given a modest swimming garment with a knee-length skirt. The two are seen swimming together, and Marty proposes again, but Secora feels she cannot marry because of her past.

Secora tells Felina she no longer wants to live or work at the cantina, and Felina helps her get a job as a waitress at the hotel. As Secora moves away, Alan grows more interested and pressures Felina to speak to Secora. Felina shares a cautionary tale from her own past in El Paso, where jealousy and violence led to death.

Meanwhile, the governor’s amnesty offer to join the Rangers prompts Alan to become a lawman. Marty makes a second proposal, but Secora again refuses, and he says he will leave the area. The Padre tells Secora that Marty needs someone to love him, and Secora’s resolve softens only to tighten again as Alan pressures her further.

Marty returns to town as the ballad San Angelo fills the air, and he senses danger: gunmen are waiting to kill him. Secora and Alan are locked in an office, with Alan watching her closely. Marty dismounts to scan the street, and Secora runs to his side. Alan steps into the street and shoots Secora, who falls to the ground. Marty draws his gun and shoots Alan until he is out of bullets. Alan’s men open fire, wounding Marty, who collapses beside Secora. With barely enough strength left, Secora lays her hand on top of Marty’s before dying.

The townsfolk gather around the fallen pair. The Padre and Miguelito are distraught, but the Padre finally smiles through sorrow when he sees Mart(y) and Secora’s hands still touching, a quiet sign of enduring love even as tragedy takes its toll.