Using his Damascus saloon for cover, American expatriate Harry Smith (Humphrey Bogart) smuggles black market guns to resistance forces that are fighting France's occupation of Syria. To undermine the rebels, Colonel Feroud (Lee J. Cobb), the head of the French Intelligence Corps, orders Smith to stop and, when he gets in trouble with the law, offers him safe passage from Damascus - in exchange for the location of the resistance headquarters. Yet, after Smith falls in love with Feroud's mistress, the colonel's kidnapping by the rebels compels the usually-selfish Smith to choose between escaping to freedom with Violette (Märta Torén), and saving the life of his rival for her love.