In 1940, on the eve of Americas entry in World War II, retired Colonel Effingham (Charles Coburn) learns about a plan being hatched in his small southern town to raze an old courthouse. Using his newspaper column to rally the townspeople, he begins a campaign to save the old landmark. Joan Bennett, William Eythe, and Donald Meek also star in this film from director Irving Pichel (Martin Luther). By the end, even you will want to fight city hall!