Carbine Williams

Leading the troubled life of a moonshiner, David Marshall Williams (James Stewart) winds up in jail after a raid on his operation results in the death of an investigating officer. While serving time, the headstrong Williams gains the attention of warden H.T. Peoples (Wendell Corey), who sees unrealized potential in the convict and gives him access to a tool shop. While tinkering away, Williams manages to invent the M1 carbine rifle, which became a standard U.S. firearm in World War II.