After seizing a British ship, the female pirate captain Anne Providence (Jean Peters) spares a Frenchman captured by the British, Pierre LaRochelle (Louis Jourdan) from walking the plank. He agrees to join Providence's crew and soon she begins to fall for the handsome officer. They travel to an island where they meet with her piratical mentor Captain Blackbeard (played by Thomas Gomez), who takes an instant dislike to LaRochelle although he at first holds back as he can see Anne has affection for him. After lavish celebrations and much drinking is done, things take a darker turn...