Based on the characters in Harold Robbins THE CARPETBAGGERS, this is the story of Nevada Smith (Steve Mc Queen), a half-breed Native American whose parents are viciously murdered by a gang led by Tom Fitch (Karl Malden). Nevada sets out to kill the gang after being taught to use weapons by Jonas Cord, Sr. (Brian Keith). Nevada kills the first of the gang in a knife fight & commits a crime to get into the prison where the second outlaw is being held & kills him, but thats just the beginning