Albert Lewin's adaptation of the 'Flying Dutchman' legend transposes the story into an upper-class English-speaking community in a small port in 1930s Spain. James Mason stars as Hendrick van der Zee, a man cursed to travel the seven seas until he can find a woman willing to die for his love. He certainly does not think he has discovered her when he meets beautiful, spoiled, nightclub singer and femme fatale Pandora Reynolds (Ava Gardner), who is engaged to be married to racing driver Stephen Cameron (Nigel Patrick) but is also being courted by hotheaded bullfighter Juan Montalvo (Mario Cabre). However, the pair soon discover that love can blossom in the unlikeliest of places.