Red River

In 1851, Thomas Dunson departs a California Trail-bound wagon train with his long-time friend Nadine Groot north of Texas, intending head south and establish his own cattle ranch in the state. Gifting his mother's bracelet, he tells his gal Fen to stay until he sends for her. Later, they spot smoke from the wagon train, and kill a few Comanche raiders; Dunson recovers the bracelet from one of them. He takes the caravan's sole survivor, teenager Matt Garth, across Red River into Texas, settling near the Rio Grande. He creates his "Red River D" brand, and promises to add "M" to the brand when Matt earns it. Fourteen years later, Dunson's once successful ranch is near bankruptcy due to the Civil War. He opts to drive his 10,000 head 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the Sedalia, Missouri, railhead for the best price. Professional gunman Cherry Valance joins the drive, suggesting the railroad in Abilene, Kansas, is much closer. Learning that Valance only heard it secondhand, Dunson insists on heading towards Missouri. Drover Bunk Kenneally accidentally causes a stampede when stealing chuckwagon sugar, killing drover Dan Latimer and widowing his wife. Dunson tries bullwhipping Kenneally, who draws his gun; Matt is faster, wounding Kenneally. Valance calls Matt soft for not killing him. Dunson's stubborn and harsh ways gradually alienate the cowhands. He remains set on Missouri despite news of a devastating raid on an earlier drive at the Ouachitas, and kills three men who intend to leave. After fording Red River, he threatens to hang two more deserters. Matt, who has been following Dunson's orders with increasing reluctance, rebels against him. Supported by all the cowhands, Matt usurps the drive and heads for Abilene on the Chisholm Trail, leaving a wounded Dunson behind. Dunson allows Groot to leave, and tells Matt that he will catch up and kill him. Matt and the drovers save a wagon train of gamblers and dance hall girls from an Indian attack. Tess Millay, a woman from the wagon train, takes an interest in Matt, but Matt is forced to leave her behind when worsening weather compels him to ford early. Eight days later, Dunson arrives with hired guns and is confronted by Tess, surprised that she knows his name and wears his mother's bracelet. He explains he wanted a son, and Matt would have inherited his ranch, but not after he took his herd. Dunson offers Tess half the ranch if she will bear him a son. She agrees on condition he stops pursuing Matt. Since he will not, she demands to accompany him. Matt reaches Abilene, finding the whole town waited a long time to buy such a herd. He accepts an offer and finds Tess in his room. The next morning Dunson arrives and is challenged by Valance; both shoot, wounding each other. Dunson confronts Matt, who refuses to draw, even while Dunson fires, grazing Matt's cheek. Dunson throws his and Matt's guns away, and punches Matt, who does not fight back, until finally he does, knocking Dunson into a cart. Tess interrupts, forcing them to making peace at gunpoint. Impressed, Dunson advises Matt to marry Tess; Matt complains that Dunson keeps telling people what to do. Dunson then tells him that on their return to the ranch they will add an "M" to the Red River D brand, stating that he has earned it.

Plot from Red River (1948 film)CC BY-SA 4.0