故事发生在南北战争结束之后,从前线退下来的老兵霍华德(詹姆斯·斯图尔特 James Stewart 饰)想要回到故乡,重新过上宁静的生活。可是到达目的地后他才发现,原本应该属于自己的土地,早已被他人侵占,想要赎回土地,霍华德必须付出一笔不小的代价。
身无分文的霍华德决定当一名赏金猎手来赚取外快,他将目标放到了大盗本(罗伯特·瑞安 Robert Ryan 饰)的身上。在捉拿罗伯特的过程中,霍华德结识了两名帮手罗伊(拉尔夫·米克 Ralph Meeker 饰)和杰西(米勒德·米切尔 Millard Mitchell 饰),两人误以为霍华德是警探,所以愿意无条件的帮助他。可是,当三人捉住了本后,另外的两人才发现了霍华德的真实身份,于是他们提出了瓜分赏金的要求。
Desdemona lives on an isolated island with her strange family: her father Mario, her stepmother Dulcinea and her mentally challenged sister Paulova. As the only inhabitants on the island loneliness and desolation engulf all members of her family. Desdemona tries to ward off her boredom by taking long walks along the beach or engaging in acts of self-gratification. She often tries to seduce her own father Mario to engage in acts of a sexual nature. Their daily routine is interrupted by the arrival (by boat) of a robust male stranger who brings friction into Desdemona's family.