[Detailingtheconflictbetweenacynicalprosecutingattorneyturnedwarden(Huston)andagreenyoungkiller(Holmes),whosestretchintheslammerthreatenstodestroynotonlyhisfaithinlifebutalsohissanity,thetaut,unsentimentalplotaboutbetrayalandrevengeproposesthattheconvicts'senseofhonourandjusticeisnotsoverydifferentfromthatoftheauthorit...]