[1] Both Nedrick Young, who contributed to the screenplay as well as acting in the film, and Sterling Hayden had also been subject to the Blacklist and the investigations of Communist influence in the movie industry by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Director Lewis was set to retire when his friend Young handed him the script, hoping to get him back into the film business.

[3] Johnny Crale, a gunfighter clad in black, stands in the middle of a street in fictional Prairie City, facing an opponent, George Hansen, who is armed only with a whaler's harpoon.

Coming to and in bad condition, George manages to walk back to the Mirada ranch, where he is cared for and told about the oil on his father's property.

[5] Rob Hunter, like some other critics, notes similarities in the themes of this film and Fred Zinnemann's big-budget, award-winning High Noon (1952): "There are two themes running through its short running time — the unfortunate reality that most people won't lift a finger to help others, whether out of disinterest or fear, and the even sadder awareness that this is a country that's long since stopped welcoming outsiders with open arms.