Revolutionaries in papal-dominated Rome are hunted down by the minions of Cardinale Rivarola (Ugo Tognazzi) for daring to rise up against the Pope. Cornacchia (Nino Manfredi) is the politician who helps the rebel outlaws Montanari (Robert Hossein) and Targhini (Renaud Verley). Martial law is imposed as the dragnet surrounds the rebels. Giuditta (Claudia Cardenale) tries to help the rebels, but all are arrested and sentenced to hang for crimes against the civilian and papal authorities. Britt Eklund plays Princess Spada and Alberto Sordi plays the priest who tries to console the captives in their last hours. The story is taken from actual incidents in Rome just after the turn of the 19th century.