After being freed from a Vietnamese war prison, French Lt. Col. Pierre Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn) is sent to help quell resistance forces in Algeria. With the help of the Capt. Esclavier (Alain Delon), who has grown weary of war, and Capt. Boisfeuras (Maurice Ronet), who lives for it, Raspeguy attempts to convert a rugged band of soldiers into a formidable fighting unit, with the promise of marrying a beautiful countess (Michèle Morgan) if he's made a general.