The War of 1812 is raging and American naval captain James Marshall (Mark Stevens) is charged with sailing to France to obtain a war loan in gold. When Marshall selects salty Ben Waldridge (Patric Knowles) as his first mate, Waldridge insists on bringing aboard his own former crew. The moment news of their cargo reaches the crew's ears, however, they begin plotting a mutiny -- and when they reach France, Waldridge's old flame, Leslie (Angela Lansbury), comes aboard with the gold.