Retired, wealthy sea Captain Jame McKay arrives in the vast expanse of the West to marry fiancée Pat Terrill. McKay is a man whose values and approach to life are a mystery to the ranchers and ranch foreman Steve Leech takes an immediate dislike to him. Pat is spoiled, selfish and controlled by her wealthy father, Major Henry Terrill. The Major is involved in a ruthless civil war, over watering rights for cattle, with a rough hewn clan led by Rufus Hannassey. The land in question is owned by Julie Maragon and both Terrill and Hannassey want it. 1958年。 由巨星名导合作的西部文艺片经典作。格利高里．派克、简．西蒙斯、卡罗尔．贝克 、查尔顿．赫斯登等人在威廉．怀勒的指导下均有颇具魅力的表现，片中的摄影构图尤其具现了西部大自然的美景，配乐亦有巨片的澎湃气势。毕克原为船长，他到西部与贝克结婚之后就在父亲的牧场中住下来。希斯顿是牧场的领班，但一开始便跟毕克互相敌视。与此同时，毕克的父亲贝克福与另一大地主艾维斯因为争夺水源而剑拔弩张。当地的小学老师西蒙斯被卷入双方的斗争中，毕克跟贝克婚变后爱上了西蒙斯，而希斯顿则与贝克凑成一对，继续统治着那一片锦绣大地。
