Man in the Middle (film)

Man in the Middle is a 1964 CinemaScope film, starring Robert Mitchum and directed by Guy Hamilton. The movie, set in World War II India, tells the story of the murder trial of an American Army officer who killed a British soldier. Mitchum plays Lieut. Col. Barney Adams, who has been assigned as the accused mans defense counsel. The film is also known as The Winston Affair, the title of the novel the film was based on, which was written by Howard Fast.

Friction develops between American and British troops stationed in India during World War II and culminates in physical outbreaks between the troops when Lieutenant Winston, an American, shoots British Staff Sergeant Quinn beforewitnesses. American General Kempton assigns Lieut. Col. Barney Adams to defend Winston at his courtmartial, assuring him that the Army Lunacy Commission has found Winston fit and sane.Adams is informed by nurse Kate Davray that Colonel Burton, who headed the lunacy commission, refused to accept the report of the hospitals psychiatric head, Dr. Kaufman, who believes Winston is a psychopath. Burton is anxious to have Winston convicted and hanged to patch the strained relations between the two forces. Adams instructs Kaufman to bring his report to the trial, but when Burton is informed of this order he transfers Kaufman to a distant hospital. Adams visits British Major Kensington, this qualified psychiatrist also considers Winston to be psychopathic but has been warned not to interfere. Kensington believes Winston killed Quinn out of a feeling of victimization because Quinn, a sergeant, had the same duties as Winston, a lieutenant. ........

Source: Wikipedia