Gun Brothers 1956
Directed by
Sidney Salkow
Made by
United Artists
Gun Brothers Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Gun Brothers (1956). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Wyoming, 1879: Chad Santee, [Buster Crabbe], a former Cavalry sergeant, is a passenger on a stagecoach bound for Cheyenne, along with saloon singer Rose Fargo [Ann Robinson] and a gambler known as Blackjack Silk [James Seay]. The coach, carrying government gold, is halted by a gang of outlaws.
Chad is on his way to see his brother Jubal Santee [Neville Brand]’s cattle ranch for the first time. What he doesn’t know is that Jubal is among the masked outlaws who rob the coach. Chad intends to defend himself, but Blackjack, fearing a gunfight, knocks Chad cold. Rose takes umbrage, telling the gang about money Blackjack has hidden in his boot. Chad awakens to find Blackjack slapping Rose, so he flattens the gambler with a punch.
A posse arrives, led by Yellowstone Kelly [Walter Sande], who used to be Chad’s army commander. Kelly would like Chad to join him in Jackson Hole in the fur trading business. Chad says he’s obligated to join his brother in the cattle business.
In town Chad starts to court Rose, but one of Jubal’s men, Shawnee Jack [Michael Ansara], has come to town to take Chad to his brother’s ranch. Chad leaves, but assures Rose he will return. Along with Shawnee and Chad is Meeteetse [Lita Milan], an Indian maiden who “belongs” to Shawnee.
On the journey to the dance Chad treats Meeteetse kindly and she takes a liking to him. Arriving at Jubal’s ranch, Chad discovers there are no cattle and the ranch is actually a hideout, with Jubal the gang’s leader. Chad notices Meeteetse wearing a brooch taken from Rose in the stage hold-up, and realizes Jubal’s gang robbed the coach. Shawnee wants Chad dead for knowing too much. Jubal vouches for Chad’s honesty. Chad tells Jubal he is going to Jackson Hole to get in the fur trading business, and Jubal sends Meeteetse along with him to show him the way.
Chad and Meeteetse make a stop in town so Chad can give the brooch back to Rose, but Blackjack sees him with it and tells the sheriff. The sheriff confronts Chad, who takes flight and is shot trying to get away. Meeteetse, along with Rose, get him back to Jubal’s ranch. Shawnee decides he wants Rose for himself, but Chad won’t give her up. Jealous of Rose, Meeteetse goes to town and offers to take the sheriff to Jubal’s ranch if he agrees to arrest Rose and let Chad go.
Chad and Rose plan to leave the ranch in secret, but Shawnee catches them and Chad wounds him. At that moment the sheriff and his men arrive and there is a gun battle between the sheriff’s men and the outlaws. All of the outlaws except Shawnee and Jubal are either killed or arrested. Chad, having seen the gun battle and thinking his brother is dead, rides off with Rose to a new life in Jackson Hole. Jubal, only wounded, escapes with Shawnee. They believe Chad sent Meeteetse to turn them in to the sheriff and they vow revenge.
Jubal and Shawnee bide their time, form another gang, then ride to Jackson Hole to kill Chad and steal his furs. Jubal confronts Chad and Chad convinces Jubal that he did not betray him. Shawnee takes Jubal’s gun and says he’s going to get the rest of the gang and come back to kill both brothers and take the furs. By the time Shawnee and the gang return, Chad and Jubal are prepared to defend themselves and are able to hold off the outlaws, though Jubal is killed saving Chad and Rose. In his honor, they name their baby girl Jubilee.
Gun Brothers Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Gun Brothers (1956) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Stagecoach ambush: Jubal among the outlaws
On a Wyoming stagecoach bound for Cheyenne, a gang of masked outlaws robs the coach and seizes government gold. Chad Santee, a former Cavalry sergeant, tries to defend the coach but is knocked unconscious as Jubal is revealed among the robbers. Rose Fargo then exposes money hidden in Blackjack Silk's boot, and Chad awakens to see Blackjack slapping Rose before Chad punches him.
Yellowstone Kelly's posse and the Jackson Hole offer
A posse arrives led by Yellowstone Kelly, Chad's former army commander. He offers Chad the chance to join him in Jackson Hole for a fur-trading venture, but Chad says he is bound to help his brother Jubal in the cattle business.
Chad heads toward Jubal's ranch with Shawnee and Meeteetse
In town, Chad begins courting Rose, but Shawnee arrives to take him to Jubal's ranch. Chad leaves town with Shawnee and is joined by Meeteetse, an Indian maiden who accompanies them to show the way.
Arriving at Jubal's ranch: no cattle, Jubal is the boss
They reach Jubal's ranch and discover there are no cattle; the place is a hideout and Jubal is the gang's leader. Chad notices Meeteetse wearing a brooch taken from Rose during the stagecoach hold-up and realizes Jubal's gang robbed the coach. Shawnee wants Chad dead for knowing too much, but Jubal vouches for Chad's honesty; Chad reveals his plan to head to Jackson Hole, and Jubal sends Meeteetse along to guide him.
Brooch betrays the link: Chad escapes and is rescued
On the road toward Jackson Hole, Chad and Meeteetse stop in town to return the brooch to Rose. Blackjack sees the brooch with Chad and informs the sheriff, who confronts Chad. He flees the confrontation but is shot while escaping, and Meeteetse and Rose rescue him back to Jubal's ranch.
Meeteetse's schemes against Rose
Shawnee's jealousy grows and he wants Rose for himself. Meeteetse goes to town and offers to tell the sheriff where Jubal's ranch is if he arrests Rose and lets Chad go, threatening to betray them if needed.
Escape thwarted: Chad and Rose flee; Shawnee attacked
Chad and Rose plan to leave the ranch in secret, but Shawnee catches them and Chad wounds him. The sheriff and his men arrive and a gun battle erupts between the sheriff's faction and the outlaws.
Aftermath: Chad believes Jubal is dead and rides with Rose
By the end of the battle, most outlaws are killed or arrested, and Chad, thinking Jubal is dead, rides off with Rose to start a new life in Jackson Hole. Jubal and Shawnee survive, escaping wounded.
Jubal and Shawnee form a new gang and pursue Chad
Jubal, though wounded, teams with Shawnee to form another gang and heads toward Jackson Hole to kill Chad and seize the furs. They vow revenge and move to surprise the brothers.
Confrontation in Jackson Hole: Chad reconciles with Jubal
Jubal confronts Chad in Jackson Hole, and Chad convinces him that he did not betray him. Shawnee seizes Jubal's gun and vows to assemble the rest of the gang for a final assault.
The assault returns; brothers defend themselves; Jubal dies
Shawnee's gang returns to attack Chad and Jubal. The brothers defend themselves and hold off the outlaws, but Jubal is mortally wounded while saving Chad and Rose.
Jubal's death and Jubilee is born
Jubal dies heroically, and Chad and Rose honor him by naming their newborn daughter Jubilee. The furs and Jubal's memory bind the family together.
A new life begins in Jubilee's memory
With Jubal gone, Chad and Rose begin a new life in Jackson Hole, cherishing Jubal's memory as they raise Jubilee. The frontier landscape becomes the backdrop for their fresh start.
Shawnee's vow; the feud isn't over yet
Shawnee and the leftover gang vow to return for revenge, suggesting the feud may continue. The threat lingers as the couple builds their life in the wake of violence.
Ending note: Jubilee as symbol of reconciliation
The story closes with Chad and Rose raising Jubilee, a living emblem of Jubal's legacy and a hopeful future. They move forward together, honoring the past while embracing a new family.
Gun Brothers Characters
Explore all characters from Gun Brothers (1956). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Chad Santee (Buster Crabbe)
A former Cavalry sergeant, Chad travels to Jubal’s ranch to reconnect with his brother. After being knocked out during the coach robbery, he fights to defend Rose and clear his name. Torn between family duty and his own path, he pursues a life in Jackson Hole while trying to keep his integrity intact.
Jubal Santee (Neville Brand)
Leader of the gang and Jubal’s ranch organizer, he orchestrates the heist and wields control through cunning and intimidation. He values profit and family loyalty to the gang over kinship, keeping Chad close as a potential wildcard.
Rose Fargo (Ann Robinson)
A saloon singer who becomes entangled with Chad. Practical and sharp, she pushes back against Blackjack Silk’s domination and ultimately aids Chad in navigating danger while longing for a new life away from the turmoil.
Blackjack Silk (James Seay)
A slippery gambler and member of Jubal’s gang who hides money in his boot and uses manipulation to keep power. He is quick to resort to violence when threatened and acts as a key antagonist to Chad and Rose.
Shawnee Jack (Michael Ansara)
An associate of Jubal who distrusts Chad and pursues his own agenda. He is willing to resort to kidnapping or murder to protect Jubal’s operation and to ensure Rose remains under their control.
Meeteetse (Lita Milan)
An Indian maiden who travels with Chad and Meeteetse is connected to Shawnee. She accompanies Chad toward Jubal’s ranch, forming a complicated bond that tests loyalties and prompts compassion along the way.
Moose MacLain (Slim Pickens)
A rugged frontier figure who embodies the rough, hands-on justice of the West. He lends practical aid and street-smarts in the tense pursuit of the gang.
Yellowstone Kelly (Walter Sande)
Chad’s former army commander and the posse leader who wants Chad to join him in Jackson Hole in the fur trade. He acts as a bridge between military discipline and frontier opportunism.
Sheriff Jorgen (Roy Barcroft)
The town sheriff who confronts Chad after the escape and coordinates with the posse and other authorities to bring the outlaws to justice.
Prospector (William Fawcett)
A town prospector who crosses paths with the main players, emblematic of the frontier’s wealth-seeking vibe during the era.
Gun Brothers Settings
Learn where and when Gun Brothers (1956) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1879
Set in 1879, the film places itself in the rough, lawless terrain of the Wyoming Territory where stagecoaches carry government gold and outlaws prey on travelers. The era is defined by gunfights, posse chases, and the clash between old cavalry discipline and frontier self-reliance. Life centers on cattle ranches, mining claims, and the constant threat of violence on the frontier.
Location
Wyoming, Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, Meeteetse
The story unfolds in the Wyoming frontier during the late 19th century, moving from bustling towns to rugged ranches and hideouts. Key locations include the stagecoach route toward Cheyenne, Jubal’s ranch, and the fur trading hubs around Jackson Hole. The landscape and small frontier towns shape the characters’ actions and the climb from order to lawlessness.
Gun Brothers Themes
Discover the main themes in Gun Brothers (1956). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Family Loyalty
The core conflict pits Chad’s loyalty to his brother Jubal against his own sense of right and duty. Family ties pull Chad in contradictory directions as he fights to protect Rose and uncover the truth about the coach robbery. Jubal’s leadership by blood is tested by the consequences of his criminal life. The narrative examines whether kinship can withstand greed and crime.
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Justice
Justice in Gun Brothers is a murky negotiation between formal law and frontier vengeance. The posse, sheriff, and army command wrestle with what is fair when lawbreakers wear familiar faces. Chad’s choices sometimes blur moral lines as he contends with betrayal and the prospect of personal retribution. The film questions if true justice can exist in a world ruled by survival.
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Frontier Conflict
The Western setting amplifies the constant struggle for power, resources, and survival. Outlaws, ranchers, and lawmen collide in a web of deception, pursuit, and gunplay. The harsh landscape—not just weapons—drives the tension and forces characters to make hard, pragmatic decisions. Violence and strategy shape every confrontation on the frontier.
Gun Brothers Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Gun Brothers (1956). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the dust‑laden expanses of 1879 Wyoming, the frontier hums with the clang of stagecoach wheels and the whispered promise of new beginnings. Against this backdrop of wide skies and restless towns, former cavalry sergeant Chad Santee rides toward a reunion he has long imagined—a first glimpse of his brother’s cattle ranch and a chance to lay his military past to rest. The road brings him into a world where law, commerce, and survival intersect, setting the tone for a tale that balances rugged adventure with the quiet yearning for family.
Along the way, Chad encounters the lively Rose Fargo, a saloon singer whose spirited presence offers a glimpse of the frontier’s softer side, and a charismatic gambler known only as Blackjack, whose quick wit masks a deeper complexity. Their brief entanglement on the stagecoach hints at the tangled alliances and hidden loyalties that define life on the edge of civilization. The journey’s rhythm is punctuated by the arrival of a weather‑worn posse, suggesting that the shadows of past duties still follow Chad even as he seeks a new path.
When the brothers finally meet, the reunion is tinged with an uneasy tension. Jubal Santee, once a figure of familial pride, now walks a line far nearer to the lawless side of the frontier, drawing the attention of a rugged associate, Shawnee. Their interactions reveal a clash of ideals: the disciplined soldier versus the free‑wheeling outlaw, each wrestling with personal codes and the expectations of the land they call home. The atmosphere is thick with the promise of choices that could reshape both their futures.
As the sun sets over the open prairie, Chad stands at a crossroads, his loyalty to blood pitted against his own sense of honor and the burgeoning connection with Rose. The western landscape, with its endless horizons and whispered winds, frames a story of rugged determination, brotherly bonds, and the delicate balance between redemption and the restless spirit of the Wild West.
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