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.
Shirley MacLaine
as Anna Vorontosov
Laurence Harvey
as Paul Lathrope
Jack Hawkins
as William W.J. Abercrombie
Nobu McCarthy
as Whareparita
Ronald Long
as Headmaster Reardon
Norah Howard
as Mrs. Cutter
Juano Hernández
as Chief Rauhuia
Edmund Vargas
as Matawhero (uncredited)
Neil Woodward
as Mark Cutter (uncredited)
Lisa Sitjar
as Hinewaka (uncredited)
Alan Roberts
as Seven (uncredited)
