The Iron Mistress (1952)

In the heart of 1825, a rugged yet ambitious man named Jim Bowie ventures to the vibrant city of New Orleans, driven by the promise of business and the hope of selling the bountiful yield from his family-run sawmill. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters the entrancing Judalon de Bornay, a woman whose irresistible allure has the men of New Orleans ensnared in her captivating web. As Bowie prepares to leave the city, Judalon's intoxicating influence sparks a duel between him and one of her infatuated suitors. Surviving the perilous confrontation, Bowie daringly decides not only to sell his lumber but to gamble his family mill for a stake in land. His audacious bet pays off, and within a few years, the Bowie brothers are living a life of opulence. As fate would have it, Bowie crosses paths with Judalon once again, but this time she's the wife of another man. Despite her marital status, she continues to puppeteer those around her, including Bowie. His burgeoning business interests and Judalon's manipulations lead him into a bloody duel that leaves multiple men dead and puts him at odds with the local saloon owner, the notorious Black Jack Sturdevant. After a near-death experience on the trail, Bowie is saved by a striking Mexican woman who inspires him to relocate to Texas. Throughout his tumultuous journey, Bowie evolves from a simple lumberjack to a sophisticated man of the world, designing a unique knife from a meteorite fragment, starting a successful plantation, and in the process, learning the true cost of love and power. As he navigates the trials and tribulations of his life, he discovers the hard-earned wisdom that will shape his destiny.

The Iron Mistress is an action movie featuring Alan Ladd.

The Iron Mistress is currently streaming on TCM.