When he learns his days are numbered old count Hervé de Kéraudren decides to hide in a secret alcove and to die there, just to annoy his heirs. As a result of his body not being found the latter will have to wait for five years until they can inherit the count's money. Very upsetting indeed, all the more as they are required to keep up the Kéraudren estate in the meantime. To collect money, nephews and nieces organize a Son et Lumière show at the manor while busily looking for the missing corpse. But, unexpectedly, they get killed in turns. Murders or accidents? Jean-Marie, his fiancée Micheline and his cousin Edwige investigate and finally succeed in exposing the culprit. And, the count's body being found by chance, all goes back to normal.

派克（威廉·霍尔登 William Holden 饰）是个失败的强盗，他和他的同伙们不仅在抢劫银行上栽了跟头，自己还遭到了赏金猎手桑顿（罗伯特·瑞安 Robert Ryan 饰）的追杀，好在有印第安青年安琪（杰米·桑切兹 Jaime Sánchez 饰）出手相助，才得以脱险。
跟随着安琪，派克一行人来到了墨西哥边界，在那里，驻扎着个性凶残暴躁的军阀玛帕奇（费南德斯·埃米里奥 Emilio Fernández 饰）及其同党，而玛帕奇和安琪之间，有着一段充满了仇恨和鲜血的不堪往事。为了能够通过玛帕奇的地盘，交出安琪成为了唯一也是无奈的选择。派克打算带领弟兄们救回安琪，不幸的是为时已晚，安琪已经被杀害。在悲愤交加的派克和玛帕奇之间，一场恶战即将拉开帷幕。

20世纪30年代，日本全民备战，社会从上到下充满了亢奋情绪。农村少年平田一郎（中村吉右卫门 饰）和好友本多（岛田正吾 饰）怀着一腔热情，报考了军校，结果平田考就江田岛海军学校，本多则进入陆军军校，两个好友就此分开。平田刚进入军校后还有些动摇，但经过四年学习和训练，成功成长为一名拥有“江田岛精神”的帝国海军精英。随着太平洋战争爆发，平田被派往前线，却经历了日军各种不利，也目睹老友本多战死。带着遗憾和愧疚回国养伤之后，平田回到母校担任教官，虽然战事低迷影响国人精神，但平田还是努力想把“江田岛精神”传递下去。随着战局恶化，老兵被召唤回冲绳战场，平田在学员整齐歌声送别之下，直赴最后为国捐躯的机会……