This process helped make the blue skies crisper and brighten the autumn footage photographed by cinematographer William H. Daniels.

On the way to meet his former boss -- railroad tycoon Ben Kimball -- Grant McLaine rescues a young boy, Joey Adams, from villain Concho.

Ben informs Grant that his payroll has been robbed three times already by a gang led by Whitey Harbin and the Utica Kid.

Over the objections of Kimball's number 2, Jeff Kurth, Grant accepts the undercover job of carrying $10,000 to the crew by train.

Grant rushes to Joey's side and throws himself in front of the boy when the Kid rides up, gun aimed—at a gang member.

The film's cast was notable for having two famously highly decorated, real-life World War II combat veterans -- former infantryman Murphy (Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, etc.

[3] -- "the most decorated Soldier in American history"[4][5]), and former bomber pilot and squadron commander Stewart (Distinguished Flying Crosses, French Croix de Guerre, Air Medals, etc.

Also, each played the pacifist-hero character "Destry" -- in 1939 or 1954 versions of the namesake western films -- to critical acclaim.

Mann backed out of the project before production due to other obligations and a disagreement over the casting of Audie Murphy and was replaced by James Neilson.

[11][12] Dimitri Tiomkin scored the film and co-wrote the songs "Follow the River" and "You Can't Get Far Without a Railroad" with Ned Washington, which Stewart performed himself.

Co-star Dianne Foster witnessed Audie Murphy's legendary temper when filming a scene in which his horse would not co-operate and several takes were needed.

In 2024 Dimitri Tiomkin's original score was featured in a limited-release CD with Bonus material from Intrada.