American-born Anna Vorontosov teaches school in a remote, primitive section of northern New Zealand. Her experimental teaching methods have won her the love and affection of her pupils and their parents and the admiration of the unhappily married school inspector, Abercrombie. Her personal life, however, is less secure; frightened of love and sexually inhibited, she has always been aloof with men. Eager to break down this barrier is Englishman Paul Lathrope, a somewhat irrational and immature fellow teacher who aspires to be a singer. Though Anna is attracted to him, she refuses to submit to his advances.

Cast

Shirley MacLaine

Anna Vorontosov

Laurence Harvey

Paul Lathrope

Jack Hawkins

William W.J. Abercrombie

Nobu McCarthy

Whareparita

Ronald Long

Headmaster Reardon

Juano Hernández

Chief Rauhuia

Edmund Vargas

Matawhero (uncredited)

Norah Howard

Mrs. Cutter

Neil Woodward

Mark Cutter (uncredited)

Lisa Sitjar

Hinewaka (uncredited)

Alan Roberts

Seven (uncredited)