In Joseph Losey s stirring anti-war film a tough no-nonsense British Army lawyer (Dick Bogarde) is assigned to defend a lowly private (Tom Courtenay) at his court martial. The private has been accused of desertion during battle. The lawyer Captain Hargreaves is convinced this young man should fry. However as the trial progresses and the strain of three horrible years endured at the Allied front is revealed the more he is compelled to spare the youth from a firing squad. Winner of the British Academy Award for Best Picture of 1964. Courtenay won the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival.