"In simple terms Ride the High Country was about salvation and loneliness.." said Peckinpah himself. This is the film that brought attention to the director as a powerful new voice in the Western film genre. Some consider this Peckinpah's finest film. It certainly showed his powerful narrative ability, as well as his flair for creating colorful and memorable characterizations.

The story tells of aging lawmen Steve Judd and Gil Westrum, played appropriately by aging Western film legends Joel McRea and Randolph Scott. The two accept a contract to escort a shipment of gold from the mining town of Coarsegold to the bank in the valley below. Accompanied by his young protege Heck Longtree (Starr), Gil plans to steal the shipment. Along the way, he attempts to convince his longtime friend Steve that they owe it to themselves to abscond with the gold as just pay for all of the hard years they served as lawmen with little financial reward. A subplot involves a young woman (Hartley) who they are escorting to Coarsegold to marry one of the miners, and the ensuing complications when she decides to flee her new husband and his unruly brothers. (Peckinpah regulars L.Q. Jones and Warren Oates make their first appearance as two of the brothers.)

Two of Peckinpah's great strengths are readily apparent in this film. First, is the excellent dialogue in the interplay between Gil and Steve. Particularly as Gil tries unsuccesfully to turn Steve to his way of thinking. "You know, Steve, the only things on a poor man's back when he dies are the clothes of pride, and they aren't any warmer to him dead than they were when he was alive. Is that all you want, Steve?" Steve contemplates briefly and replies, "All I want is to enter my house justified." Many who knew Peckinpah well state that such a quote was surely something Sam would have heard frequently from his father as a young man. Several other scenes show Peckinpah's strength as a dialogue coordinator, particularly the dinner with the bible-thumping father of Mariette Hartley, played by R.G Armstrong. Steve and the father debate one another primarily using quotes from the bible in an attempt at one-upmanship. Peckinpah's thorough knowledge of the history of the West is also visible throughout the film, especially in the authentic looking sets and locations.