本片讲述一位富豪被控谋杀妻子,一切证据都对他十分不利,陪审团认为罪名成立,将被判刑。他不服上诉,並延请一位法律教授出庭辨护,法律教授通过严密的调查分折,将一审有罪的判决推翻。尽管谋杀的可能性依然存在,但再无指控的法律根据。Alan Dershowitz a brilliant professor of law is hired by wealthy socialite Claus von Bulow to attempt to overturn his two convictions for attempted murder of his extremely wealthy wife. Based on a true story the film concentrates not on the trial like other legal thrillers, but on the preparatory work that Dershowitz and his students put in as they attempt to disprove the prosecution's case and achieve the Reversal of Fortune of the title.