The Stranger Wore a Gun 1953

Jeff Travis, Randolph Scott, a former spy for Quantrill’s Raiders, defects the moment he sees Quantrill’s true aims. He enlists in the Confederate Army as a legitimate soldier, hoping to leave his shadowy past behind. After the war, he narrowly escapes a gang hunting Quantrill’s war criminals by leaping from a river boat, a warning from Josie Claire Trevor saving his life. Prompted by Josie, he rides toward Prescott, Arizona to start a new life.

In Prescott, the crooked saloon owner Jules Mouret George Macready hires Jeff to monitor a string of gold shipments along the local stage line run by Jason Conroy Pierre Watkin and his daughter Shelby Conroy Joan Weldon Conroy, all in preparation for a major robbery. Aided by his henchmen Dan Kurth Lee Marvin and Bull Slager Ernest Borgnine, Jules drives out his competitor, the Mexican bandit Degas Alfonso Bedoya, from town. There’s a fragile spark of attraction between Jeff and Shelby, but nothing concrete forms before Josie arrives and sets up shop in Jules’ saloon.

When the stage driver Jim Clem Bevans is gunned down in a stage robbery, Jeff resolves to come clean, avenge Jim, and live honestly once more. While waiting to rob the stage, Jules and his gang cross paths with Degas and his crew. Jules shoots Degas and makes another robbery attempt, but Jeff intercepts him by booting Dan off and heading back into town. That night, Jeff and Dan square off, pistols raised, and Jeff proves faster.

The following morning in the saloon, Jeff faces Jules and Bull again. Bull tries to slip his gun out, but Josie yells and buckles his hand, a lamp flying from her grip and the saloon bursting into flame. Bull keeps trying to shoot Jeff, but Josie pulls his gun hand down, giving Jeff the opening to shoot him as Josie escapes. Jeff pursues Jules, yet the fire proves too fierce, trapping Jules inside. He escapes with only minor burns on his hands.

Later that day, Jeff and Josie board the stage for California to begin a new life together. Shelby and her father bid them farewell, a quiet sign that hope and renewal might lie just over the horizon.