Slattery defends a lady doctor on a slander charge in court. Actually, the issue is child beating and the problem tracing cruel parents. Hero Slattery becomes very emotional in the process and indulges in a good deal of speech making, but the play is informative and well cast,

Mancuso, a woman prosecutor (Zohra Lampert), involves Slattery (Richard Crenna) in a politically explosive investigation of gambling corruption. Cicely Tyson and Tige Andrews are featured. Amidst a murder investigation, District Attorney Mancuso publicly alleges that legalized gambling houses have corrupted a city sector. Accusing Slattery of inaction due to his party's financial ties to gambling kingpin Arnold Layton, she provokes him into launching an investigation.

Pat O'Brien as a bewildered, aging politician, contributes a touching performance. There is too much talk in this one, but viewers, especially older ones, should find interest in the theme concerning a fighting rooster, with weathered wings, who has been put out to pasture. Nancy Wickwire and David McLean co-star.