Run for Cover

Run for Cover is a 1955 American Western film directed by Nicholas Ray and starring James Cagney, Viveca Lindfors, John Derek, and in his final film, Jean Hersholt. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, this film was made in VistaVision. Plot At a watering hole, Matt Dow meets young cowboy Davey Bishop for the first time. As they take turns shooting at a hawk, a train that has recently been robbed goes by. Mistaking the shooting for another attack by train robbers, the men on the train toss a bag of money toward the two men. Realizing that a posse will be looking for them, Dow and Bishop head straight to the next town on the line to return the money, but the expecting posse ambushes them before they get there. Bishop is wounded, and taken to the Swenson farm to recover. Once back in town in the sheriff's office, Dow confronts the trainmen and explains what happened. Dow then goes out to the Swenson farm to check on Bishop, and is made welcome by Helga Swenson and her father. The townspeople regret the shooting of Bishop, whose limp will be permanent. Dow accepts a job as sheriff, giving Bishop the job of deputy. Dow begins to spend more and more time with Helga, eventually proposing successfully. An outlaw named Morgan and another man are spotted planning a bank robbery. The second man is captured, but Morgan escapes. Dow leaves the prisoner with Bishop, and pursues and captures Morgan on his own. On his return to the town, he discovers that Bishop has been scared into turning his prisoner over to a lynch mob. Dow tasks Bishop with taking Morgan to the marshal for his safety, and then proceeds to arrest the lynch mob. The lenient judge, though, only fines the mob $10 each for the lynching. Bishop returns injured and empty-handed, relating that Morgan overpowered him and escaped.