Ostarelemu šerifu Roosterju Cogburnu odvzamejo njegovo značko zaradi pijančevanja in nevarne uporabe orožja. Vendar kmalu dobi novo priložnost, da se odkupi, ko nepridipravi napadejo indijansko vas in ubijejo duhovnika Georgea. Duhovnikova hčerka Eula se želi kriminalcem maščevati, zato se na ekspediciji pridruži Cogburnu. Bosta ujela nevarno tolpo? V glavnih vlogah nastopata legendarna John Wayne in Katharine Hepburn.
A small village in the Indian Nation that is run by a Minister Goodnight and his daughter Eula is overrun by a band of drunken thugs. They kill and rape the people of the village. Miss Goodnight then teams up with the ruthless Marshal Rooster J. Cogburn who goes after them and bring them to justice.