The Tall Stranger is a 1957 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Thomas Carr and starring Joel McCrea and Virginia Mayo.

Former Union soldier Ned Bannon is shot in his side and left for dead while returning home at the end of the Civil War.

When questioned Bannon tells them that just before he was shot he had spotted a small mob of cattle and some drovers.

Mort Harper and his friend Purcell claim the trail was broken a year earlier and Bannon wouldn't know that as he has been away from the area since the war started.

At Bishop's ranch, some of his hands returning after unsuccessfully trailing some cattle rustlers.

They also tell him about the approaching wagon train and that there was man in a Union officer's uniform with them.

Bishop thinks the Union officer may be Bannon, who he blames for failing to prevent the execution of his son, who was a member of Quantrill's Raiders.

The settlers arrive in Bishop's Valley which Harper says has plenty of land that is free for the taking.

When Bishop hears than Bannon is coming he orders his foreman, Stark, to tell the men to stay out of it.

When he is down to his last bullet instead of shooting, he starts a fist fight, which Bannon wins, giving Bishop a severe beating in the process.

Bishop still wants to find the rustlers but Bannon doesn't think they are connected to Harper.

The settlers are working out how they will settle their part of the valley when two men claiming to be miners approach and ask for tobacco.

Zarata will wait at Bishop's ranch with a dozen men and kill whoever returns there.

Bannon tries to convince the settlers to leave peacefully and offers them provisions and ammunition and to lead them safely to the correct trail to California.

Red can't ride further so Bannon tells Chavez to get a buckboard will Stark stands guard.

Stark and Will says as Red's shot killed the woman the settlers can't be blamed.

Zarata leaves the settlers camp that night and finds Ellen washing in a stream.

They fill a wagon with wet straw, set it on fire and push it towards the bunkhouse.