Jeff Chandler stars as James Gordon Blaine, a hot shot attorney from New York that is called in to defend a man who has killed another that was sexually abusing his trophy wife.
The suspect Michael Reston (Phillip Reed) is acquitted mainly because of the inept testimony of the Sheriff Nick Hoak (Jack Carson). This is simply something Hoak won't stand for so he plans to get even.
Hoak frames Blaine in a phony crime involving the bribe of a jury member during the trial. Blaine's life is turned upside down as he must prepare to go to court and clear his name.
Hoak controls the town with an iron fist and everyone is afraid of him. No one more so than Carol Morrow (Gail Russell) whom Hoak has instructed to say she was the one that was bribed.
This Jack Arnold directed film really moves along and as it does it gets bleaker by the minute. The ending of the film is a wonderful twist, but if you pay attention you can see it coming. The actors are all top notch and do a great job.
The presentation from Kino is beautiful and long overdue on the Blu-ray market. It is included in a 3 disc set that also includes "Girl In The Kremlin" and "Man Afraid".
The rest of the cast includes Elaine Stewart, Edward Andrews, Jeanne Crain, Edward Platt, Paul Birch, George Tobias and William Schallert. I have to say Jack Carson really stands out in this film. I have never seen him in a role like this.
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