Wayne stars as Dare Rudd, an irresponsible cowpoke constantly being bailed out of trouble by his trail boss Tom Fillmore (Johnny Mack Brown), who also happens to be his cousin. But their family ties are tested when Rudd loses Fillmore's cattle money to crooked gambler Hammond (Monte Blue). Instead of a showdown taking place between the two cousins, they join forces to right the wrong and bring Hammond to justice.

Helltown was also known as Born To The West and was one of Wayne's last films released before Stagecoach rocketed him to superstardom.