Master Sgt. Albert Callan (Steiger) is a stern, by-the-book super soldier who is stationed in an Army camp in post-WWII France. His commanding officer (Latimore) is a lush and only too happy to let Callan take over although his undisciplined soldiers resent Callan's strict policies. Then Callan begins eyeing handsome Pvt. Swanson (Law) and all those lonely, repressed sexual urges come bubbling up. Since Callan can't openly express them, he makes Swanson's life and his own miserable until the inevitable final act.