Three cowhands, between occupations, have the bad opportunity to throw night camp in exactly the valley for a cabin full of guys who killed the guard and just robbed a stagecoach. A posse forms up along the ridge arrives, and takes for granted that everybody listed below is guilty -- fit for hanging in the tree, whatever comes first or shooting into bits. 50% of Ride in the Whirlwind's 82 minutes is devoted to tapping the absurdist horror of this circumstance. From the remaining halfof the two surviving cowpokes (Jack Nicholson and Cameron Mitchell) seek refuge at a farm house where they reluctantly undermine the farmerand accept break fast from his wife, flirt along with his kid (Millie Perkins), play some checkers, and aspire to remain unnoticed till night fall.