This is an indecisive, ultimately unconvincing wartime drama set in the 1930s when Spain was caught in a bloody civil war, a situation that is never clearly delineated in that the story supports the fascists without specifically saying so. The hero is a voluntarily defrocked priest, Arturo Carrera (Dirk Bogarde) who is being hunted by the leftist, anti-clerical, and anti-fascist forces. While on the run himself, he encounters a beautiful prostitute, Soledad (Ava Gardner) and as sure as the sun rises, the two fall in love and stay together. Eventually, they are both caught by the anti-Franco fighters who are trying to get their hands on a precious holy relic. The ex-priest is trapped into making a no-win decision between his love for Soledad and his love for the church while she has a similar but more tragic decision to make on her own.