A U.S. Marine Corps colonel alerts the president of a planned military coup against him.

Burt Lancaster
as Gen. James Mattoon Scott

Kirk Douglas
as Col. Martin "Jiggs" Casey

Fredric March
as President Jordan Lyman

Ava Gardner
as Eleanor Holbrook

Edmond O'Brien
as Sen. Raymond Clark

Martin Balsam
as Paul Girard

Andrew Duggan
as Col. William "Mud" Henderson

Hugh Marlowe
as Harold McPherson

Whit Bissell
as Sen. Frederick Prentice

Helen Kleeb
as Esther Townsend
CinemaSerf
This is an enthralling political drama that pitches Fredric March ("Pres. Lyman") against the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Burt Lancaster ("Gen. Scott") in a battle for control of the United States. When an aide to the General - "Jiggs Casey" (Kirk Douglas) notices some odd goings on, he ...