Primarily based totally on an actual story, Mrs. Soffel is prepared in Pittsburgh near the dawn of the 20th century. Peter Soffel (Edward Herrmann) is the warden of a first-rate security jail, and his partner Kate (Diane Keaton) usually comes by to be taught the Bible aloud to the inmates, no matter her fragile effectively being. Whereas making her rounds, she makes the acquaintance of the Biddle Brothers, Ed (Mel Gibson) and Jack (Matthew Modine), who’re sentenced to dying for murder and theft. Ed has turn into one factor of a star due to his letter-writing advertising marketing campaign, by which he appeals inside the letter-to-the-editor columns of the favored press to stay the execution of his brother and himself. His magnificence, intelligence, and attract make a sturdy impression on Kate, whose marriage presents her little pleasure. In time, Kate finds herself falling in love with Ed, and he or she discovers that she’s unexpectedly receptive to his suggestion that she help him escape.