The Deadly Companions

The Deadly Companions is a classic 1961 American Western starring Maureen OHara, Brian Keith, Steve Cochran and Chill Wills. The movie is based on a novel of the same name and is the directorial debut of Sam Peckinpah. When her young son is killed in a bank robbery, a widowed dance hall hostess, Kit Tilden (Maureen OHara) is determined to bury her son by his father in Siringo which is now deserted and located in Apache territory. The ex-army sergeant who accidentally killed her son, Yellowleg (Brian Keith), decides to help Kit by taking her sons body across the desert to be buried, whether Kit wants his help or not. Yellowleg (Brian Keith) forces the other two bank robbers Turk (Chill Wills), a confederate deserter, and Billy (Steve Cochran), a gunslinger, to accompany them. Billy (Steve Cochran) attacks Kit and Yellowleg throws him out of their camp. Turk (Chill Wills) then deserts Kit and Yellowleg. Yellowleg and Kit become quite close during the journey to Siringo. They discover that Kit and Turk have followed them and this leads to a gunfight among the three men. Who will survive and who will die? This is a classic Western you won't soon forget.