What Is There Was a Crooked Man... About?
The premise of There Was a Crooked Man... in 316 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the unforgiving expanse of the Wild West, lawlessness and survival coexist under a sky that seems as relentless as the men who roam its deserts. Dust‑laden towns cling to a fragile order while the open range whispers of danger and opportunity in equal measure. The landscape itself feels like a character, shaping every decision with its heat, its isolation, and the ever‑present threat of violence that lurks behind every tumbleweed‑strewn horizon.
Paris Pitman Jr. enters this world as a notorious outlaw whose reputation precedes him. Once a leader of a daring crew, he now finds himself behind iron bars, his once‑formidable gang reduced to memory. The harsh reality of prison life forces him to confront both his past choices and the stark limits of his ingenuity. Cunning and pride drive him, yet the weight of his recent failures sits heavy, fueling a restless need to claw back control in a place designed to strip him of it.
Opposite him stands Sheriff Lopeman, the embodiment of a lawman hardened by the very frontier he serves. Steadfast and principled, he wrestles with the delicate balance between enforcing order and understanding the humanity of those who oppose him. His presence in the town and later within the prison walls brings an unyielding sense of accountability, turning every interaction with Paris into a silent contest of will and morality.
Against this backdrop, a desperate bargain is proposed, hinting at the thin line between redemption and ruin. Paris contemplates a bold, high‑risk escape, while the sheriff watches with a mixture of suspicion and resolve. The tension between a man who has nothing left to lose and a guardian who refuses to surrender his duty creates a charged atmosphere, promising a clash that will test the limits of both law and lawlessness. The stage is set for a gripping showdown where every decision could change the course of their intertwined fates.
What Happens in There Was a Crooked Man...?
The complete story of There Was a Crooked Man..., from the first scene to the last, in 549 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In 1883, a bold robbery unfolds as a crew led by Paris Pitman Jr. and their partners infiltrates the home of a wealthy rancher, Mr. Lomax, and makes off with a staggering sum—$500,000—stored in a safe cleverly disguised as a table. The ensuing gunfire shreds the household, and Pitman, after a brutal display that costs several of his own men their lives, escapes with the lone survivor’s brutality intact. He then buries the loot in a rattlesnake den out in the desert, turning the prize into a hidden fate he hopes to claim later. Meanwhile, Lomax, left broke and despairing, drifts into a bordello where he’s a familiar sight. The proprietress, moved by pity, lets him climb to a private viewing area to spy through a peephole on Pitman as he entertains a client—an unsettling reminder of the life he once had and the man who robbed him.
Pitman’s fate takes a harsher turn when he is caught, tried, and convicted, ending up in a penitentiary in the Arizona territory with a ten-year sentence. Inside, the prison becomes a microcosm of its own harsh economy, housing a spectrum of inmates: two con men who tried to fleece parishioners, a young man who accidentally killed his girlfriend’s father with a billiard ball, a broad-shouldered but blunt gunman who once shot a sheriff’s leg in a drunken stupor, a mute immigrant from China reputed to be a homicidal menace, and the legendary thief known as The Missouri Kid. The warden at first is corrupt and sees Pitman as a potential pawn; he offers a lucrative deal—Pitman could break out for a share of the loot. Pitman signs on to the plan, but the uprising that ensues during a prison riot ends with the warden LeGoff being killed, derailing the escape.
A new dynamic takes over as Woodward Lopeman steps in as the reform-minded warden. Lopeman sweeps away the harsh labor regime, curtails cruel punishments, and begins to restore a sense of dignity to the inmate population. He identifies leadership potential in Pitman and assigns him to oversee the construction of a dining hall, all while Pitman continues to prod his fellow prisoners toward a breakout by promising them a slice of the hidden fortune. The governor’s impending visit becomes the cover for Pitman’s final bid for freedom, and the prison erupts again into violence as a riot provides a distraction. In the chaos, three inmates fall, and Pitman takes the lives of two more of his associates as he presses toward the prize.
As Pitman makes his way to the money, Lopeman remains in relentless pursuit. The moment Pitman reaches the stash and begins to retrieve the bags, he is bitten by a rattlesnake, a cruel twist of fate that slows him just long enough for Lopeman to close in. Yet Pitman dies before he can reclaim the wealth in full, and Lopeman, seizing the moment, brings back both Pitman’s body and the money to the prison. However, in a final, chilling turn, Lopeman doesn’t hand the treasure over. Instead, he sends the mule bearing Pitman’s corpse into the prison yard and, with the loot in hand, slips away to Mexico, leaving the institution—and Pitman—behind with a twist ending that preserves the money for the person who could claim it last.
There Was a Crooked Man... Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Robbery at Lomax's ranch house” to “Final twist: escape to Mexico with the loot”. 13 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Robbery at Lomax's ranch house
In 1883, Paris Pitman Jr. leads a crew into the home of wealthy rancher Mr. Lomax and makes off with a fortune stored in a safe disguised as a table. The ensuing shootout reveals brutal loyalties as Pitman kills several of his own men during the chaos. Lomax's wealth is taken, setting the stage for a long, dangerous hunt for the loot.
When:1883, night Where:Lomax residence
- 2
Loot hidden in the desert
After escaping the Lomax home, Pitman hides the loot in a nest of rattlesnakes in the desert. The plan to keep the money safe and untraceable drives many future decisions. The desert becomes the rumored resting place for the hoarded wealth.
When:Following the heist Where:Desert
- 3
Lomax visits a bordello and spies on Pitman
A broke and despondent Lomax visits a bordello, where he becomes a regular. The madam lets him go upstairs to peer through a peephole and watch Pitman being entertained by two of her girls. The scene shows how the hidden loot continues to haunt Lomax and Pitman alike.
When:After the robbery Where:Bordello
- 4
Pitman is imprisoned and sentenced
Pitman is captured and convicted, receiving a 10-year sentence at a penitentiary in the Arizona Territory. His notoriety marks him as a dangerous figure within the prison system. The sentence sets the stage for a dramatic evolution of prison politics and alliances.
When:Following capture Where:Penitentiary, Arizona Territory
- 5
A diverse cellblock
Pitman shares a cell with a motley crew: two con men, a man who killed his girlfriend's father by accident, a hulking gunman, a mute Chinese immigrant, and the legendary train robber The Missouri Kid. Tensions mount as their backgrounds collide and rivalries form. The mix of personalities foreshadows conflict and potential collaboration.
When:Early prison years Where:Prison cellblock
- 6
LeGoff’s break-out scheme and its collapse
The corrupt warden LeGoff offers Pitman a deal to break out in exchange for a share of the loot. Pitman agrees, but the plan collapses when LeGoff is killed during an inmate uprising. The power vacuum shifts control and alters the inmates' calculus about loyalty and risk.
When:During the inmate uprising Where:Penitentiary
- 7
Lopeman becomes the new warden and reforms
Woodward Lopeman, the sheriff who was shot in the earlier events, becomes the new warden. He abolishes hard labor, restricts cruel punishment, and teaches the prisoners self-respect. His reformist leadership reshapes prison life and creates a climate that influences Pitman's next moves.
When:After LeGoff's death Where:Penitentiary, Arizona Territory
- 8
Pitman oversees the dining hall project
Recognizing Pitman’s leadership, Lopeman has him supervise the construction of a dining hall. Pitman uses his position to rally fellow inmates and push toward his long‑term plan. The project becomes a focal point for discipline, rebellion, and ambition within the prison.
When:During Lopeman's tenure Where:Penitentiary, dining hall construction site
- 9
Pitman’s breakout plan gains momentum
Pitman cajoles his fellow inmates into breaking out by promising each man a share of the hidden loot. The scheme grows bolder as governor’s visit looms, creating a risky window for escape. Loyalties fracture as the moment of truth approaches.
When:Around time of governor's visit Where:Penitentiary
- 10
Governor’s visit triggers riot and killings
On the day the governor visits, Pitman makes his move and uses a riot as cover for the escape. The melee costs lives, with three inmates killed, and Pitman killing two more partners to protect his plan. Chaos erupts as the breakout becomes real and dangerous.
When:During governor’s visit Where:Prison yard
Show the other 3 events of There Was a Crooked Man... Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Pitman reaches the loot and is bitten
Pitman heads for the money bags hidden in the desert, but a rattlesnake bites him en route. The venomous interruption halts his advance and jeopardizes the entire escape attempt. Lopeman advances in pursuit, closing the gap as the desert becomes a deadly chessboard.
When:During escape attempt Where:Desert near the rattlesnake nest
- 12
Lopeman retrieves the loot and Pitman’s body
Lopeman finally catches up, collects the money and Pitman’s body, and heads back toward the prison. The pursuit is tense as the lawman preserves what remains of Pitman’s failed plan. The grim retrieval marks the end of Pitman’s direct influence over the loot.
When:Immediately after the snake bite Where:Desert road; approaches prison
- 13
Final twist: escape to Mexico with the loot
Upon returning to the prison, Lopeman sends the mule carrying Pitman’s body into the facility and then makes a dramatic exit with the loot. He ultimately escapes to Mexico with the money, leaving the law and the dead to mark Pitman’s doomed enterprise. The story closes on Lopeman’s victory and the unresolved fate of the fortune.
When:End of story Where:Prison and onward to Mexico
Who Are the Main Characters in There Was a Crooked Man...?
6 characters, among them Pitman, Lomax and Woodward Lopeman: who each one is and the part they play in the story.
- P
Pitman
A cunning, ruthless inmate who orchestrates the plan to recover and share the buried loot. He relentlessly manipulates fellow prisoners, promising each a share of the money to secure his own escape. His charm hides a calculating mind that is willing to betray partners to reach freedom.
- 🎭 Manipulative
- 🧭 Ambitious
- 💰 Greed-driven
- L
Lomax
A wealthy rancher whose fortune becomes the target of the initial robbery. He is later a regular at the bordello and is driven by desperation, slipping into a vulnerable frame as he contemplates his losses. His wealth and status are the catalysts that set the chain of events in motion.
- 🎭 Wealthy
- 🧭 Desperate
- 💔 Desolate
- WL
Woodward Lopeman
A reform-minded sheriff turned warden who abolishes hard labor and advocates for prisoner dignity. He recognizes Pitman's leadership potential and assigns him to oversee the prison dining hall, while quietly pursuing a harder path to stop the escape. His reforms clash with the inmates' schemes and ignite the riot.
- 🎭 Reformist
- 🧭 Authoritative
- ⚖️ Just
- TM
The Missouri Kid
One of Pitman's inmate allies, a legendary train robber with a hardened temperament. He participates in the riot and escape plan but is ultimately undone by the chaotic events and Pitman's manipulations.
- 🎭 Infamous
- 🗺️ Outlaw
- 🧭 Hardened
- MC
Mute Chinese inmate
A silent immigrant among the prison cohort, reputedly a dangerous maniac. He communicates through actions and remains a background figure in the escape dynamics, underscoring the film's theme of marginal figures within the system.
- 🎭 Silent
- 🧭 Immigrant
- 🪶 Quiet
- G
Governor
The visiting governor observes the prison and its reforms, providing political context for Lopeman's changes and the prison riot. His arrival catalyzes some of the day-of-riot actions and the final reckoning.
- 🎭 Authority
- 🧭 Oversight
- ⚖️ Official
Where and When Is There Was a Crooked Man... Set?
There Was a Crooked Man... is set in Lomax's ranch house, desert hideout, Bordello and Arizona Territory penitentiary (1883). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1883
Set in the American West during 1883, the film inhabits a frontier era defined by rough justice, scarce resources, and outlaw activity. The action moves from a wealth-ridden ranch to prison walls and perilous desert terrain, reflecting the period's harsh realities. This era shapes the characters' choices, risks, and the pursuit of fortune.
Where
Lomax's ranch house, desert hideout, Bordello, Arizona Territory penitentiary
The story unfolds across distinct Western locations: the Lomax family home where the break-in occurs, a remote desert where the loot is buried in a rattlesnake nest, a frontier bordello that becomes a focal point for surveillance and manipulation, and a harsh penitentiary in the Arizona Territory where Pitman and his fellow inmates scheme and clash.
- 🏚️ Ranch
- 🏜️ Desert
- 💃 Bordello
- 🏛️ Prison
What Are the Themes of There Was a Crooked Man...?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Greed, Escape and Justice.
-
01
Greed
Greed drives the plot as Pitman and others chase a hidden fortune. The lure of wealth tests loyalties and pushes characters toward risky decisions. The pursuit of money creates betrayals and heightens the stakes, culminating in a costly twist.
-
02
Escape
Escape is the engine of the narrative: a prison riot, shifting alliances among inmates, and a relentless pursuit to reach freedom. Pitman uses the opportunity of chaos to push toward an exit, while the warden does what he can to thwart the plan. The escape efforts drive the tension to a dramatic, ironic conclusion.
-
03
Justice
The film probes justice within a flawed system: a reform-minded warden clashes with hardened criminals while trying to impose dignity and order. The ending questions what constitutes true justice as death, capture, and theft intertwine. It contrasts moral reform with the harsh realities of crime and punishment.
What Kind of Film Is There Was a Crooked Man...?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A gritty and cynical Western set inside a harsh prison, building steady tension around a desperate escape plan and culminating in a bleak, morally ambiguous ending that underscores the corrupting power of greed.
- gritty
- harsh
- claustrophobic
- cynical
- tense
- desperate
- prison life
- greed and corruption
- failed escape
- moral ambiguity
Content notes: graphic violence, prison brutality, corruption.
Quiz
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