Original subtitles

[ dog barking ]

[ horse whinnying ]

Soon as the men are through unloading

I was this wagon to go back to Salt Lake,

tonight before daybreak.

No one must know this stuff is coming through.

The way you'’re talking, Lucas, you'’d think this stuff was gold.

It'’s better than gold.

It'’s flour.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

It was the lusty, roaring, mining town

of Virginia City, Montana territory,

late in the fall of 1864.

Rumors had spread all over town

that snow made the high mountain passes impassable

and that no supplies of any kind were getting through.

Leading merchant, Charles "Doughy" Lucas,

controlled the flour market,

and was now prepared to drive the price sky-high.

Plain baking flour began to be called...

Good morning, Mr. Lucas.

Morning, Mrs. Angel.

Getting a little nippy, ain'’t it?

Looks like it'’ll be an early winter.

Still no flour?

This is the fifth day.

Well now, word'’s getting around there'’s six feet of snow

in the high passes between here and Salt Lake.

My wagons just ain'’t getting through.

It'’s only October. What are we going to do this winter?

Guess you'’ll just have to buy from them that has it.

What'’s happening to the flour around here, Doughy?

People are buying it all up, Mr. Baxter.

Like I was telling Mrs. Angel here,

the supply wagons can'’t get through the high passes.

Sam Dowd cleaned me out of my last 12 sacks. All I had.

I guess people are just hoarding against the winter.

Sam Dowd, the smithy?Yeah.

Why don'’t you go down and see him, maybe he'’ll sell you a sack?

Thanks, Doughy.

That'’s an awful lot of money, Dowd.

Like I said, it'’s $40 a sack.

And you just lucky it ain'’t even higher.

It'’s only 25 at Lucas's.

When he'’s got it, which he ain'’t and I have.

But $40?That'’s the price.

And that'’s gouging.

Call it anything you like, Baxter,

but that'’s what you'’re going to pay.

Why, you might even say I'’m doing you folks a favor,

keeping the price down.

Why don'’t you put up a story how the people of Virginia City

are being robbed, Mr. Editor.

Robbed? Well, how'’s that, Milt?

On account of the flour situation.

It'’s downright thievery, that'’s what it is.

Now, suppose you calm down and tell me what'’s downright thievery.

Sam Dowd selling flour for $40 a sack.

Sam Dowd?

What'’s a blacksmith doing selling flour?

He'’s profiteering, that'’s what he's doing,

because he knows, on account of the heavy snows in the passes,

there ain'’t no flour coming in.

But he'’s got plenty because I saw it over at his place myself.

And he'’s selling it for as much as folks can pay and more.

Them that can'’t pay, just gotta go hungry.

Unless they get tough about it, and they will.

Now there'’s gonna be trouble and you mock my words about it.

What you'’re saying is serious business, Milt.

Let'’s go at this calmly and sensibly

before a lot of people get hurt.

Well, some people I wouldn'’t mind seeing get hurt.

The sheriff know what'’s going on?

Sure he does. Just looks the other way.

Guess I better get over there,

see if I can make him look the right way.

Well, I'’m not asking that you start arresting people, sheriff.

I'’m only asking that you head off some real serious trouble.

Well, can'’t rightly stop people from selling what they got,

askin'’ what they want for it, now can I, Ed?

Course you can, if it'’s in the public interest to do so.

Public interest?

That'’s pretty words.

Look good in print, but that wouldn'’t stop nothing.

Are you saying you'’re not gonna do anything?

I'’m saying that if a man wants to sell something that belongs to him,

he'’s got the right to ask a million dollars for it

and you got the right not to buy it,

and that'’s all I'm saying.

Look, Sheriff, if those passes are blocked with snow,

and supply wagons, Doughy Lucas'’s supply wagons...

can'’t get through,

we'’re gonna have trouble here this winter.

And it'’s gonna keep getting worse.

The people know we'’ve gotta have law and order here.

When people get hungry, they forget a lot of things.

Now, all I'’m suggesting is that you confiscate the flour

that'’s being hoarded and sold at highwaymen'’s prices.

Then split up what you'’ve taken in and sell it

to the people who need it, at the regular price.

Then, if you have to, throw the profiteers who resist in jail.

Won'’t work. Why not?

Ain'’t nothing in any of my books that says

that I got the right to confiscate property.

Now, I know the law and I'’ve got no precedent.

And as long as I'’m sheriff here, I'm gonna be a law-abiding sheriff.

Sometimes you have to make a precedent.

I'’ll face up the law-breaking if I have to.

In my time, Mr. Cullen, I'’ve gunned down men

because the law was on my side.

But in this case, there ain'’t nobody breaking the law.

It'’s all here. This tells us what'’s got to be done.

If our families go hungry, we'’ve got a right to take action.

Let them call it war if they want to!

A flour war! And let this be our flag.

I also say we should punish those profiteers,

profiteers like Sam Dowd,

just like it says here in Cullen'’ newspaper!

All right, let'’s go get 'em down at Sam Dowd'’s.

[ crowd shouting ]

There he is. Get him!

You'’re stealing my property, that'’s what you're doing.

You'’re gonna get paid for it.

Cost $23.50 a sack in Salt Lake.

$25 a sack here, in Virginia City.

Since now you'’re a provisioner, you'’re gonna get $25 a sack.

That means that you made a profit.

Is that the last of them?

That makes 27 sacks.

Now, Sheriff, this flour is gonna be distributed and sold

in equal shares, at regular prices.

And Dowd'’s to get all the proceeds.

Now, everybody got that straight?

CROWD: Yeah!They got guns against me.

They'’re breaking the law.

This is your doing, Cullen.

Aww, he did--Ah, Milt, let me speak for myself.

Maybe you'’re right, Sheriff.

Maybe these men have no legal right to do what they'’re doing.

But sometimes there are other laws,

moral laws that have to do with hungry women and kids.

Ain'’t you gonna arrest them for stealing my property?

Our families are hungry, Sheriff, we ain'’t stealing.

Why, we'’re paying Dow back more than he paid.

Now, we mean business, so don'’t try to stop us.

I don'’t want any violence here.

There'’ll be none. This flour's gonna be distributed equally

so that every family gets something.

They'’re breaking the law!

Sheriff?

I don'’t know.

I just don'’t know.

You'’re about as jelly-spined as the sheriff.

You and your boys certainly came running when I needed you.

Sam, you know I can'’t play an open hand yet.

I'’m clean! I haven't even got enough left for myself.

[ sighs ] You got nothing to worry about.

You'’ll be all right.

Plenty more where that flour came from.

But we'’re not selling it in the open anymore.

That'’s where we made our mistake.

From now on, cash in advance.

And every sack is delivered direct to the customer'’s doorstep.

And Cullen

and his loudmouth newspaper, steaming up everybody?

It ain'’t gonna be loudmouth for long.

You, um, better hang on to that, you may need it.

Oh, another thing.

Now on, flour is $100 a sack.

Come on.

Hey, that looks good, George.

You mind?Why, no. Help yourself.

Sit down.

Well, barkeep said you was a newspaper fellow.

That'’s right.

Well, I-I figure you fellas know about

most everything there is going on in the town.

Where a man might find hisself a job?

Well, there aren'’t many jobs these days.

Oh.

Uh, have a drink?

Sure could use one. [snickers]

Fact, I ain'’t had one since Salt Lake.

Salt Lake? Uh, George, bring my friend a drink.

Uh, whiskey.

You just come through?Yep.

How '’bout the snow in the passes?

Ed! Ed, come quick!

Your office, they'’re wrecking it! Come on!

[ glass shattering ]

Let'’s get out of here! Come on!

Come on!

[ sighs ] Well, goodnight, Milt.

And thanks.Goodnight.

You was just about to buy me a drink, Mr. Editor.

Well, this one'’s gonna be on me.

I always buy for a man that'’s worse off than I am.

Well, thank you.

And so there wasn'’t much for a cowpoke to do,

what with winter snows and all.

So, I decided to head over the pass to warmer parts

and I just learned up well.

There was plenty others had that same idea too.

Boy they was-- they was coming through that pass

on horseback, and flatbeds, and even on foot.

Did you say flatbeds?

Yeah, they was-- You sure?

Word here was that nothing like that was getting through.

Well, the word was wrong.

Now, the big stuff like stagecoaches,

Conestogas ain'’t getting through.

No, but a flatbed, why there was plenty of them.

I seen them with my own eyes.

I can'’t figure out why anybody would say

flatbeds ain'’t getting through, can you?

Yeah, I can figure out why somebody would say that.

Money.

Good morning, Doughy.

Morning, Ed.

Hey, I haven'’t seen you since it happened.

I'’m real sorry.

Well, anything special you were after?

No, just uh-- just talk.

Talk? Talk about what?

Well, since my newspaper was wrecked,

I don'’t know what to do to keep busy.

Ah, yeah. That was-- that was pretty terrible.

Sure wish there was something I could do to help.

Thanks.

But it isn'’t my paper that concerns me right now,

it'’s this food-- this flour situation,

that really has me worried.

Well, there ain'’t nothing they can do about that either.

You sure?

What'’s that supposed to mean?

Well, I was just thinking.

Must be a way we can get a supply of flour through somehow.

Now, Ed, you know that'’s impossible.

Snow in the pass is at six, maybe seven feet high,

getting higher all the time.

You sure?

What'’s this "sure" business?

I was just wondering how you knew.

Well, I--

everybody knows about the snow in the passes.

Everybody? Like who?

Ed, I don'’t know what you'’re driving at.

All I know is I ain'’t got any flour because none'’s coming through.

'’Course.

It isn'’t your fault, Doughy, I can see that.

Don'’t worry about it.

There'’ll be plenty coming through.

Soon.How?

You'’ll be the first to know.

[ horse neighs ]

And I better wait for you out here.

Yeah. Good.

Two flatbeds of flour?

That'’s a lot of flour.

Where'’s it going?

Virginia City.That'’s Doughy Lucas' territory.

You should have plenty of flour.

What are you folks doing up there?

Baking cakes or mining silver? [ chuckles ]

There is no flour in Virginia City, Mr. Wentworth,

unless you'’re willing to buy it from profiteers.

Now, when I left, they were selling it for $100 a sack.

$100 a sack?

I'’ll say, that'’s profiteering.

Mighty fancy profiteering.

Well, let'’s see, two flatbeds of flour

should come to $2,200.

How much do you intend to pay down?

Nothing.

Mister,

are you asking for a handout or do you intend to buy?

Neither.Neither?

Now, you just told me you wanted to buy two full flatbeds of flour.

I didn'’t say anything about buying.

I want you to deliver it yourself.

Look, these people need flour, Mr. Wentworth.

They need it desperately.

You can sell it for twice the regular amount,

but it won'’t be $100 a sack or anywhere near it.

Mister, I got once price.

And if you'’re suggesting that I'’d try to cash in on human misery--

I'’m sorry, Mr. Wentworth. I don'’t believe in making money

that way either, but I'’ve got to get flour to Virginia City.

I just can'’t stand by and see my friends bled white.

I can'’t pay for it, I haven'’t a cent.

I know, you must think I'’m plain loco.

Well, uh, you sure don'’t look loco to me.

Then, you'’ll deliver the flour?

No.

But I'’ll let youhave it.

Full 100 percent credit.

Mr. Wentworth--You see,

you'’re not loco, I am.

[ chuckles ]Good luck.

We'’re in business.

Now, I want you to get back to Virginia City

and get word to Lucas.

Lucas? But, well, you said he'’s a crook.

I do, but I promised him he'’d be the first to know.

But, I--I want him to be.

Excuse me, I must be catching myself a cold.

Mr. Cullen'’ on the way with two flatbeds full.

Said to tell you so.

Well, guess I better go warn the people

so they'’ll know not to throw good money away

any more than is necessary.

Now, uh, just a minute.

You better leave that to us.

You'’re a stranger in town.

Yeah, folks are liable to think you'’re trying

to stir up some trouble.

Yeah, and if you ain'’t known in this town,

folks don'’t take your word for nothing.

We'’ll get the word around.

That'’s right.

Yeah, you do that.

[ door closes ]

If Cullen gets through with that flour

the whole town will know they'’ve been taken.

Folks are gonna put two and two together.

Mr. Cullen ain'’t gonna get through

There'’s gonna be a reception committee to meet him.

At Rattler'’s Bend.

Reception committee?Yeah.

The way I see it, we'’re indebted to Mr. Cullen

for replenishing our supply of flour.

We ought to repay the favor.

Go get them!

MAN: Yah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

[ gunshots ]

[ horse whinnying ]

No, no, no!

No, no, no, Cullen, let me out of this.

Save--I'’ll give you anything you want. Anything.

Save your prayers.I'’ll give you a new newspaper.

Why don'’t you tell them that at the trial?

Look, can'’t I square this?

Sure, later.

[ crowd grumbling ]

Where are you men going?

There'’s flour being hoarded in this town, sheriff and we'’re gonna find it.

And we'’re gonna search every store, house, and barn '’till we get our hands on it.

You can'’t do that.Can'’t we though?

Move aside.You start invading people'’s homes

there'’s gonna be shooting and bloodshed and I won'’t stand for that.

You'’re just a little too late, sheriff.

Cullen'’s to blame for this.

He goaded you into taking the law into your own hands.

Because the law wouldn'’t do nothing itself

Gallagher and Dowd, they know where the flour is.

[ crowd chattering ]Looks like real trouble.

Sheriff'’s standing upto them.

This is our chance to get on the side of the law.

What'’s going on then?

Didn'’t you deliver Mr. Cullen'’s message?

Sheriff, Ed Cullen--Never mind Ed Cullen.

He'’s caused enough damage.But--

Started this whole ugly mess.

He'’s on his way here with flour. Tons of it.

How do you know?

I was in Salt Lake with him when he got it.

That'’s a tall tale. How about the snow?

Ain'’t enough snow to stop flatbeds with runners,

even some rolling on wheels.

Ah, don'’t listen to him.

They just sent him over here to keep us quiet.

Everybody knows that the passes are high with snow.

Nothing'’s coming in for weeks.

Ed Cullen got through like I told you

and he'’s on his way here.

Told you, they don'’t believe him.

That ain'’t gonna stop them from searching for that flour.

Well, maybe we can.

Kind of nice, bein'’ on this side of the law.

Come on.

[ crowd chattering ]

We'’re here to help you, sheriff.

No need for that.You got a couple

of loud-mouthed troublemakers over here who need shutting up.

Ain'’t that it?I can handle it, Gallagher.

Well, we think maybe you can'’t.

I tell you, Cullen'’ on his way.

And I can handle him and I will too.

Now all of you, go on back to your homes.

MILT: We want that flour!

[ crowd shouts ]

Put that gun down, Gallagher.

Do as he says.

[ crowd buzzing ]

All right, let'’s have all of them.

Now, these men with me are deputy marshals.

They'’ll take real good care of the gougers,

but it'’ll be done legally.

I was wrong when I told you...

"Take the law into your own hands."

Mob rule isn'’t the answer.

But I hope we can build the kind of town

in which that never has to happen again.

Now, there'’s enough flour here

for everyone for the whole winter.

All right, line up and get it.

Regular prices, $25 a sack.

[ crowd shouting ]

Hey wait, wait a minute men. Wait a minute.

I say we pay double

and the difference goes to raise money

for a new press for Ed Cullen.

Well, I'’ll chip in my share. How about the rest of you?

[ crowd shouting ]

Still looking for a job?I sure am.

Well, I'’ve got an opening for a printer'’s devil.

Printer'’s devil?

Don'’t exactly know what that is, but I'’ll take it.

Folks always said I was going to Hades.

In no time, with the help

of just about everybody in town,

except Doughy Lucas, Dowd, and Gallagher

who were sent to jail,

Ed Cullen rebuilt his newspaper.

For years, as long as Cullen published,

a flour sack flew over his newspaper building

and appeared on the masthead on page one.