[3] A Parisian falls in love with an American soldier near the end of World War II.

Robert Teller (Kirk Douglas) visits a seaport in the south of France in the early 1950s.

Lise Guidayec (Dany Robin), an orphan without money or identity papers, seeks a way to escape from the authorities.

When a black market dragnet lands Lise in jail, she is humiliated because now she (like Jean Valjean) is branded a "criminal for life".

In order to do so, Robert must obtain the approval of his commanding officer, who refuses because the captain thinks he knows what is best for his men.