His condemned life as a third-generation slave meant laboring in the hot sun under harsh conditions and under he threat of whips and death.The message of director John Sturges"" taut and influential film can be interpreted with different levels of meaning, but predominantly as the tense portrayal of a one-armed stranger who intrusively has arrived in a half-forgotten desert town filled with ruffians.Grizzly, unshaven, and unkempt bar patrons eagerly fought for available chairs at his table for a friendly card game with the two-bit gambler.Jakie threatens: "If you whip me again, I""ll run away - - andnever come back!" Outside he door, Sara reacts horribly to the sounds of her beloved boy being brutally whipped in the bedroom.The man was attacked, and his larynx was grabbed and crushed (rendering him conveniently mute with inoperable vocal chords) - and Michael switched clothing with him.