During the Allied invasion of Italy in World War II, six stories unfold in various regions, from Sicily to the northern Po Valley. These tales follow the interactions between American soldiers and Italian civilians as they navigate their way through language barriers and cultural differences.

北平，刘默邨勾结日本人无恶不作，晚上，刘默邨在回家路上被地下工作者打伤，刘默邨命令治安部长贾新民三天内破案，贾新民得到消息知道了重庆地下工作者的集会地以及情报“天字第一号”已经到了北平。刘默邨的女儿刘小燕听到了贾新民的计划后无意中告诉了表哥应卫民，应卫民曾与刘默邨的续弦秦婉霞有过恋情。晚上，贾新民去逮捕地下工作者时却扑了空，刘默邨非常震怒，秦婉霞为了自己的私利联合贾新民想置应卫民于死地，刘默邨的仆人黄安找到应卫民让他逃走，原来黄安就是“天子第十八号”，他是应卫民的上司，此时秦婉霞也找到应卫民并交给他一张特别通行证。原来秦婉霞就是“天字第一号”，她设计让应卫民何刘小燕带情报逃走，自己和25号枪杀刘默邨和贾新民，并“壮烈”牺牲。

1946 film by Howard Hawks