In 1920s rural Mississippi, Nancy Mannigoe, an African-American servant, is placed on death row for the murder of Temple Drake's infant child. Temple, the daughter of the governor, pleads with her father to exonerate Nancy of the charges, explaining that Nancy acted in haste to prevent her from resuming her affair with a roguish Cajun called Candy Man. Details of Temple's sordid past are uncovered as she begs mercy for her faithful servant.
Lee Remick
as Temple Drake
Yves Montand
as Candy Man
Bradford Dillman
as Gowan Stevens
Harry Townes
as Ira Bobbitt
Odetta
as Nancy Mannigoe
Howard St. John
as Gov. Drake
Jean Carson
as Norma
Reta Shaw
as Miss Reba
Strother Martin
as Dog Boy
William Mims
as Lee
Marge Redmond
as Flossie
Jean Bartel
as Swede
