Lush cinematography elevates this slick drama about wealthy John Wiley (Peter Finch), who returns to his Ceylon tea plantation with his English bride, Ruth (Elizabeth Taylor). Her delight with her new surroundings turns into ennui, however, when she finds that John prefers his cronies' company, viewing her as a trophy wife. The arrival of overseer Dick Carver (Dana Andrews) leads to romance with Ruth, but a cholera outbreak changes everything.