"Joe" (Glenn Ford) gets embroiled in a bar room brawl that sees him punch a man to the floor. Unfortunately for him, the man dies and soon he is in from of the district attorney "Knowland" (Broderick Crawford) who, whilst sympathetic, warns him that a sentence of between one and ten years looms. Initially well behaved and obedient of the rules, he soon loses faith as it becomes clear that the parole board have no immediate interest in releasing him and solitary confinement beckons. Some years into his sentence, "Knowland" is appointed governor of the prison and recalling that case makes him cha... lees de rest.