Based on short story "The Tin Star" by John W. Cunningham. It takes place in Hadleyville, New Mexico Territory.
As the town awaits the return of the "bad guy", everyone desserts the Marshall. He never criticizes anyone.
The commentary on law enforcement is poignant:
The profession as a life-long 'tin-star' lawman:
It's a great life. You risk your skin catchin' killers and the juries turn 'em loose so they can come back and shoot at ya again. If you're honest, you're poor your whole life, and in the end you wind up dyin' all alone on some dirty street. For what? For nothin'. For a tin star.
In the face of collective cowardice, law and justice cannot exist.
The marshall, Will Kane [Gary Cooper], reminds me of Captain Bill McDonald (September 28, 1852– January 15, 1918), Texas Ranger, who said, "No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on a-comin'."
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