Chakiris is chosen king of the Mayans after his father is killed in a war. His tribe leaves Mexico and resettles on the coast, where Brynner, the chief of a local Indian tribe, leads an attack on the newcomers. He is wounded in the battle but nursed back to health by Field, Chakiris' fiancee. The two leaders decide to live in harmony, but Gordon, Chakiris' old enemy, is intent on destroying the Mayans. When he leads his warriors on an attack, Brynner and Chakiris unite to defeat him, but the Indian chief is killed saving his new friend's life. This is definitely something different for Richard Basehart, but that is what he liked.