After being accused of murdering a shopkeeper, Johnny O'Hara (James Arness) begs retired lawyer James Curtayne (Spencer Tracy) to represent him. Once in court, the shaky Curtayne struggles in the face of a tough prosecutor -- and worse yet, his alcoholism also threatens to unravel him. After O'Hara ends up in prison because of his lawyer's botched handling of the case, a reeling Curtayne will stop at nothing to redeem himself, even if it means taking matters into his own hands..