a bit preachy in the style of the day but a remarkable film . the opening be especially strong . among the interesting touch and the movie lynch mob be make up mainly of college student wear their school t shirt . new york model adele jergens do not have much of a hollywood career but she right on the money in this one . although the time frame be post wwii and the story be base on an actual lynching in san jose and california and in 1933. reporter royce brier of the san francisco chronicle win a pulitzer for his account of the event . california governor james rolph jr. be quote a say he would like to turn over all jail inmates serve sentence for kidnap to the custody of those fine patriotic san jose citizen and who know how to handle such a situation .