Texas-born Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated combat soldiers of World War II, was especially cheered as a hero in his home state. That Lone Star pride was key to the neophyte actor landing his first movie lead this sturdily made profile of a tough-as-nails delinquent inspired by Variety Club's Boys Ranch case histories and backed by Texas theater owners who championed Murphy. The future star of forty movies plays repeat offender Danny Lester, serving time for a botched robbery and chafing to escape. Boys Ranch caretakers Lloyd Nolan, Jane Wyatt and James Gleason try to set Danny straight, while fellow juvies Stanley Clements, Jimmy Lydon and Dickie Moore try to put the antisocial hothead in his place.