Fools' Parade

When a trio of ex-convicts led by Mattie Appleyard (James Stewart) is released from prison, they hope to open a general store using money Mattie has saved during his 40-year sentence. This attempt is met with great resistance from a corrupt prison official, Doc Council (George Kennedy), and the banker who issued Mattie the check. As the group tries to navigate the system and outsmart their enemies, they must also contend with a cast of unsavory characters, including a young prostitute named Cleo (Anne Baxter) and a pair of deadly accomplices, Lee Cottrill (Strother Martin) and Steve Mystic (Mike Kellin).