In 1834, Charles Stewart (Alan Ladd), the spoiled, dissolute son of a shipping magnate, is shanghaied aboard the Pilgrim, among of his own daddy's own boats. He embarks upon a long, hellish sea boat beneath the tyrannical rule of Captain Francis Thompson (Howard Da Silva), assisted by his first partner, Amazeen (William Bendix). One of the crewmates would be Richard Henry Dana Jr. (Brian Donlevy).