A range war is building in Wyoming. Caught on opposite sides are Sam Brassfield, who builds fences to protect his grass land, and Clay Mathews, a cattle baron determined to keep an open range.

Both men argue their case before the cattlemen's association to President Chester A. Arthur, who happens to be in Cheyenne for a visit. A hired gun of Mathews picks a fight with Brassfield's top man, Johnny Quatro, in a saloon, then vows revenge after Brassfield intervenes.

Brassfield proposes marriage to Sharleen Travers, who runs a neighboring ranch with her brother Harry. At first the spineless Harry sides with Mathews, but after a scolding from his sister, he apologizes to Brassfield. A while thereafter, the hired gun Bodine shoots and wounds the unarmed Harry, then kills Sharleen in cold blood.

Another rancher mistakenly blames Brassfield for a raid that Matthews ordered. He changes sides after overhearing Brassfield speak on his behalf to the President. In a final showdown, Brassfield urges Mathews to keep the dispute between themselves, then outdraws Mathews in a gunfight. Bodine also pulls a gun, but Quatro shoots him down.

• Robert Taylor as Sam Brassfield
• Robert Loggia as Johnny Quatro
• Joan Caulfield as Sharleen Travers
• Robert Middleton as Clay Mathews
• Larry Gates as President Chester A. Arthur
• Malcolm Atterbury as Abe Clevenger
• William Windom as Harry Travers
• Virginia Christine as Ruth Winters
• Richard Devon as Vince Bodine
• Ray Teal as Ed Winters
• Bob Ivers as Webb Carter
• Maggie Pierce as June Carter
• Woodrow Parfrey as Stafford
• Richard Tretter as Hobie Renton
• John Mitchum as Tex

According to MGM records, the film earned $435,000 in the US and Canada and $650,000 elsewhere resulting in a gain of $20,000.^[2]

• List of American films of 1963

• Cattle King at IMDb  
• Cattle King at AllMovie
• Cattle King at the TCM Movie Database
• Cattle King at the American Film Institute Catalog