Kirk Douglas stars as the principled, rigid detective whose personal code has become twisted from dealing with too many criminals. Eleanor Parker (Caged, The Sound of Music) is his wife, tormented by a guilty secret. While the business of the precinct swirls around them - from cases involving a frightened shoplifter (Lee Grant) to an amusing burgler (Joseph Wiseman) - the couple's personal conflict reaches an explosive, unforgettable climax.