Synopsis: Living in the vast wilderness of northern California during the late 19th century, the Bridges family are not prepared to battle with nature. This is proved when a mountain lion takes the life of one of the boys, causing older brother Curt (Robert Mitchum) to seek the villainous cat and avenge... Living in the vast wilderness of northern California during the late 19th century, the Bridges family are not prepared to battle with nature. This is proved when a mountain lion takes the life of one of the boys, causing older brother Curt (Robert Mitchum) to seek the villainous cat and avenge his brother's death. William Wellman (THE OX-BOW INCIDENT) directed this deliberately paced, psychological Western-action picture, filled with deep allegory and touches of melodrama. A sense of dread follows the family throughout and permeates the film in this atypical battle of man versus beast set in the deep woods. [More]