Smalltown lawyer Paul Biegler (James Stewart) courts controversy when he agrees to defend army lieutenant Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), who is facing charges of murder. It is alleged that Manion killed a bartender whom he believed to have raped his wife (Lee Remick), and the evidence assembled by the hard-headed big city prosecutor Claude Dancer (George C. Scott) seems to confirm this. Nevertheless, Biegler believes in his client and does his best to prove his innocence. Otto Preminger's courtroom drama features a score by jazz great Duke Ellington, titles by the legendary Saul Bass, and was nominated for seven Oscars.
