Down-on-his-luck cowboy Ted Daniels captures a beautiful wild horse, names her Bess, and teaches her tricks. His devotion costs him his ranch hand job. Hoping to turn his luck around, Ted enters a local rodeo to win prize money. However, an unscrupulous Carnival owner, coveting Bess for his show, sabotages Ted’s bulldogging event by having an accomplice oil the horns of Ted’s steer. This causes Ted to fall and break his leg.
While Ted recuperates, Bess escapes to find him. During attempts to recapture her, she damages a man’s car. Penniless, Ted is forced to sell Bess at auction to cover the costs. The Carnival owner buys her, subjecting Bess to mistreatment as a forced performer in his traveling show.
As Ted recovers under the care of the local doctor’s daughter, he faces a choice: pursue a settled life with her or risk everything to rescue his beloved horse. Ted chooses Bess, setting out to reclaim his loyal companion from the cruel Carnival owner.
Directed by Lew Landers
Main cast:
Cameron Mitchell as Ted Daniels
Audrey Long as Penny Gray
Fuzzy Knight as Woody
James Millican as Bud Millerick
John Harmon as Blake
Edward Gargan as Deputy
Harry Cheshire as Doctor Gray
Cliff Clark as Sheriff
Release date: 1948
Filming location: California, USA
