Detailingtheconflictbetweenacynicalprosecutingattorneyturnedwarden(Huston)andagreenyoungkiller(Holmes),whosestretchintheslammerthreatenstodestroynotonlyhisfaithinlifebutalsohissanity,thetaut,unsentimentalplotaboutbetrayalandrevengeproposesthattheconvicts'senseofhonourandjusticeisnotsoverydifferentfromthatoftheauthorities:'Someone'sgottapay'liesalltooeasilyonthelipsofbothvengefulhard-asseslikeKarloffandself-righteousperpetratorsofthelawsuchasHuston.Butthere'snofacilemoralisinghere;rather,thefastpacing,grimlyrealisticatmosphere,andsuperbperformancessummonupatragicbattleofwitsandpowerinwhichbothsidesareequallyrightandwrong,forcedtodowhattheirpositioninliferequiresthemto,andfromwhichtheonlywayoutisdeath.Hawks'laterconcernsareinfullbloomhere-prideinprofessionalism,loyaltyandbetrayalwithinthegroup,thedifficultiesfacingmenforcedtolivewithoutwomen,responsibilityandrespect-andhistotallyassuredstyleisreflectedinthequick,naturalisticdialogue,quirkyblackhumo