Walter O’Neil (Kirk Douglas) is an alcoholic with no willpower but is also a D. A. He is married to Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck), who is an heiress that is very strong but spoiled, and she does not like him. Walter’s pal Sam Masterson (Van Heflin) wishes his assistance with a case involving Toni Marashek (Lisabeth Scott); she’s been falsely accused. Martha’s aunt (Judith Anderson) died some time ago, and Martha is afraid that Sam will tell all that he knows regarding the night she died and destroy Martha’s and Walter’s lives. Martha schemes against Sam even though she also loves him.