A young woman, Maddalena Paradine (Alida Valli) is accused of poisoning her husband, The Colonel, a blind military hero, while in London and hires Barrister Anthony Keane (Gregory Peck) to defend her. During the course of the case Anthony becomes enamored with the mysterious and exotic Maddalena. She encourages Anthony’s attentions which puts his 11 year marriage to Gay (Ann Todd) and career in jeopardy. Gay realizing that she is losing Anthony encourages him to continue with the case believing it’s the only way she can keep her husband. Desperate to clear his client Anthony focuses his attention of the servant Andre Latour (Louis Jourdan) as a possible suspect. Anthony merciless interrogates Andre about the Colonel’s murder resulting in Andre later committing suicide. When Maddalena learns of Andre’s suicide she can no longer contain the façade of innocence. On the witness stand she states here contempt for Anthony because he caused the death of the only person she every loved. Learning that Maddalena had in fact murdered her husband, to be with her lover Andre, was too much for Anthony to handle and he has a break down running from the courtroom back to Gay’s arms.