Plot Summary

In Sidney Lumet's harrowing portrayal of police brutality, Detective Sergeant Johnson's been on the police force for 12 years. In that time, the numerous murders, rapes, and other felony crimes he's investigated have left a terrible mark on his psyche. His bottled-up anger and rage finally explode whilst interviewing Baxter - a suspect in a series of brutal attacks on young girls. Throughout the interview, Johnson viciously beats Baxter and reveals that the state of his own mind is probably no better than that of some of the offenders who've committed the crimes that so disgust him.