An American fighter pilot, Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power), returns from World War I sickened by the violence and fighting he has witnessed. In search of meaning, he travels to Paris, where he tries to live modestly. However, this leads Larry's fiancée, the status-seeking Isabel Bradley (Gene Tierney), to break off the engagement. But Isabel returns to Larry's life when he becomes romantically involved with Sophie (Anne Baxter), a troubled alcoholic recovering from tragedy.