Luke Doolin, an unapologetic Tennessee moonshine runner, makes perilous high-speed deliveries for his liquor-producing father, Vernon. Despite the allure of the family business, Luke refuses to let his younger brother Robin join. As pressure mounts from out-of-town gangster Kogan, eager to muscle in on the local action, and Treasury agent Barrett, determined to dismantle the moonshine trade, Luke struggles to preserve his vanishing way of life.
"Doolin" (Robert Mitchum) returns from war to find a city hoodlum "Kogan" (Jacques Aubuchon) trying to muscle in on their family moonshine business. His return also doesn't go unnoticed by the local police (Gene Barry) and so he hasn't his problems to seek. Though the story here isn't really up to much, the film has a distinctly stylish look to it. Mitchum looks at ease with the part - and it's strange the scenes he shares with real-life son "James" (playing his younger brother "Rob" here) as the youngster determines he wants to help his hard-nosed sibling out. Loads of driving means loads of cars, dark country roads and moody photography as the ninety minutes progresses along fairly predicable lines to quite a fitting conclusion. Both Mitchum's here exude a coolness that adds spice to this and though it's still not a film you will remember for the plot, it's one you might recall for considering just how we all might have felt when young and hormonal with a denim jacket and a cigarette.