Dakota (1945)

In 1871 professional gambler John Devlin elopes with Sandra Sandy Poli daughter of Marko Poli an immigrant who has risen to railroad tycoon Sandy knowing that the railroad is to be extended into Dakota plans to use their 20000 nest egg to buy land options to sell to the railroad at a profit On the stage trip to Ft Abercrombie their fellow passengers are Jim Bender and Bigtree Collins who practically own the town of Fargo and Devlin is aware that they are prepared to protect the little empire trying to drive out the farmers by burning their property destroying their wheat and blaming the devastation on the Indians Continuing their journey north on the river aboard the River Bird Sandy and John meet Captain Bounce an irascible old seafarer Two of Bendenders henchmen Slagin and Carp board the boat and relieve John of his 20000 at gunpoint Captain Bounce chasing the robbers dinghy