Mr. Horn (1979)

First Part. Arizona, 1885. Al Sieber (Richard Widmark) arrives at a cowboy camp asking for Tom Horn (David Carradine), finds the scruffy young man trick roping, and hires him. While they travel, Sieber starts calling Tom, "Mr. Horn." They become friends. Next day, they find themselves surrounded by Apache. A young brave gives a message, which the "Talking Boy" Horn interprets: Geronimo warns "Man of Iron" Sieber to not chase him, or he will have to kill the scout. Sieber answers it is his job to do it. Later, they meet a Cavalry patrol commanded by Lieutenant Henry Lawton (Clay Tanner). Soon, the platoon falls into a trap. Horn chases the Apache guides, and shoots several braves, forcing them to retreat. At Fort Bowie, General George Crook (Jack Starrett) praises Horn's actions and informs them he is about to be replaced by General Miles. Sieber tells stories about their soon-to-return commanding officer, his old friend Captain Emmet Crawford (Jeremy Slate), expecting him to be a colonel already. The following day, Sieber introduces Horn to Crawford and Crawford explains that a time ago he had an argument with a general, and made the mistake of being right, so he has been passed over for promotion ever since. They enter Sonora, Mexico. After a long search, they find an Apache camp of only old men, women, and children: Sieber orders Free (James Oliver) to burn it, which he does. Later, the troopers and the scouts are surrounded by Mexican soldiers, and a battle ensues. Horn is wounded, the captain dies. Sieber is captured. A cease-fire follows, in which the Mexicans propose an exchange. Led by Horn, the Americans accept and the Mexicans retreat. The Cavalry troop and its civilian scouts depart Fort Bowie with orders to get Geronimo.. That night the Apaches attack. Horn saves Sieber's life, but the old scout gets wounded and is unable to continue, so he puts Horn in charge, advises him to kill himself if he gets captured by the Apache, and goes back to the fort, helped by Mr. Free. A long and exhausting persecution ensues; the Cavalry doesn't rest. Both Apache braves and cavalrymen die from skirmishes; they lose track of time. Horn ventures alone into the hills, until some Apache find him; he takes off his guns. The Apache take Horn to see their leader. Second Part. Geronimo tells Horn he wasn't originally a warrior, but led a life of quiet. Then the whites came and killed his entire family. Geronimo argues the injustice of the Apache being persecuted and murdered by the whites, how can Horn ask him to surrender to such people? Horn says it isn't a matter of justice: the whites have five thousand warriors whereas Geronimo only has eleven men left. Horn gives his word to Geronimo, the Apache chief can still live in peace, and stay in his Arizona reservation . At Fort Bowie, there is a public ceremony in which Capt. Lawton congratulates Gen. Miles for capturing Geronimo, not even mentioning Horn. Gen. Miles declares that all the Apache will be sent to Florida. Later, Horn leaves the fort, alone. Cheyenne, Wyoming, 1901. Mr. John Noble (Pat McCormick) offers well-dressed, mustachioed Tom Horn a large cup of brandy and introduces his wealthy and important companions. They want a detective. Horn arrives at a saloon, where some men recognize and provoke him. Horn threatens to kill them all, and the men back down and leave. Ex-Gen. Crook, drinking at a table calls Horn over. He is now an itinerant lecturer who tells children about the Indian Wars. Horn visits the ranch of the four men from the saloon, sees their cattle has other people's brands. Back at the Club, Noble agrees on a payment of $700 for each rustler killed, and Horn gives his word he won't tell anything. Later, he starts a series of attacks on the rustlers. At home, Ernestina asks Tom whether it is true he has killed a hundred men. He replies that "the more people think he has done, the less he has to do." Tom kills several rustlers, leaving their bodies lined in full view, with rocks under their heads. Later, Smalley (Richard Masur) arrests Horn. Noble visits Horn in the jail. Horn makes it clear he won't tell on him. Relieved, Noble offers him his legal counsel. The trial starts, Tom he is being railroaded, as the rustlers hate him and the cattlemen fear him telling people about who hired him. The trial continues. Not enough testimony to change the people's opinion. Horn testifies. "I don't know what else to tell you. I didn't do it. I didn't do it. I didn't." Later that night, Sieber visits him, and they spend the time drinking and chatting, like they did in the old times. Horn presents himself to his execution iwearing his best clothes, and climbs the gallows' steps. At the Club, the cattlemen drink and talk business. Then Tom is tied up, waits calmly, looking defiantly at the numerous newspapermen, sheriffs, marshalls, doctors, politicians, the judge and the prosecutor, the "bastards," until they finally open the trap.