Corrupt Wisconsin lumberman Jim Fallon (Kirk Douglas) travels to Northern California at the dawn of the 20th century in order to gain control of a tract of redwood forest. Fallon's underhanded tactics stir resentment from everyone, including settler Elder Bixby (Charles Meredith) ; his beautiful daughter, Alicia (Eve Miller) ; Fallon's fair-minded employee, Yukon Burns (Edgar Buchanan) ; and his right-hand man, Frenchy LeCroix (John Archer) -- and his cheating ways create unlikely bedfellows.