Fever Mounts at El Pao

Set on a fictional Latin American island, the action starts when Gov. Vargas (Miguel Angle Ferriz) is assassinated. His executive secretary Ramon Vasquez (Gerard Phillipe who died during production) is then forced to temporarily assume the mantle of power. After the new, brutal, and sadistic governor (Jean Servais) takes over, conditions steadily deteriorate. Meanwhile, the widow of the former governor, Inez Vargas (Maria Felix), and Ramon have fallen in love.