Director Robert Altman adapts Herman Wouk's 1951 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and play into a thrilling made-for-television courtroom drama. The gripping story recounts the events that preceded the court martial of Navy Lieutenant Stephen Maryk (Jeff Daniels), who led a mutiny against his commanding officer, Captain Queg (Brad Davis) when he became convinced that the Captain had lost a grip on his sanity. His defense attorney, Air Force lawyer Lt. Barney Greenwald (Eric Bogosian), standing apart somewhat as the only Jewish officer, is a seemingly uninterested participant, yet by the time he recalls Queg to testify for the defense, his mysterious tactics gradually make his intentions apparent.