Henry Tawes, a middle-aged sheriff in a rural Tennessee town, is usually the first man to criticize others for their bad behavior. Miserable in his marriage, Henry falls in love with teenage seductress Alma, who is the daughter of local criminal and moonshiner Carl McCain. Henry's moral character comes further into question when he is tempted to conceal Carl's crimes in order to prolong his relationship with Alma.

• Atticus
• John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.
• Gregory Peck
• Tuesday Weld
• Estelle Parsons
• Ralph Meeker
• Charles Durning
• Jeff Dalton
• Freddie McCloud
• Jane Rose