The male protagonist went to attend the funeral of his old friend TOM, which may also mean that the era when the guns in the American West were the law was gone.
As the memories unfold, until the end of the film, two distinct themes emerge, justice and love.
RANCE hoped to use the law to defend justice, but in the West at that time, it was like a baby in swaddling, very weak. TOM's chivalry uses violence to control violence, and has a very distinct character.
RANCE's experience in the west all had the help of TOM, including starting to take him in, sheltering him in front of the robbers, and practicing guns in the back. In the final duel, outsiders thought that RANCE killed the big bad guy, that he was the incarnation of a hero, and was actually RANCE's help.
TOM is great! He loves HALLIE very much, and his self-sacrifice for love is great!
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