在这部作法自毙犯罪/黑色电影/剧情片中,美国现实主义电影大师伊莱亚·凯赞执导的经典黑色惊悚片。本片根据真实事实改编，讲述在一个安静的美国小镇康涅狄格，一名慈祥和蔼的教士在街角等候时遇害。小镇公民感到震惊，并要求警方付诸行动，严惩凶手。所有的目击者都指正，约翰·沃尔德伦——一名神经紧张的外乡人是杀手凶手。虽然约翰·沃尔德伦极力否认犯罪，没有人相信他。地方检察官亨利发现案情有疑点，在承受着巨大的政治压力下，他试图证明约翰·沃尔德伦的清白。
This dramatization of a factual incident opens in a quiet Connecticut town where a kindly priest is murdered while waiting at a street corner. The citizens are horrified and demand action from the police. All of the witnesses identify John Waldron, a nervous out-of-towner, as the killer. Although Waldron vehemently denies the crime, no one will believe him. District Attorney Henry Harvey is then put on the case and faces political opposition in his attempt to prove Waldron's innocence.
