Following World War II, ex-Navy engineer Steve Martin (James Stewart) and his friend Johnny Gambi (Dan Duryea) come to Louisiana with dreams of wealth. They build an offshore oil drilling platform with the help of a large company, and find themselves in a lucrative business. However, local shrimp fishermen are hostile, feeling their livelihood is at risk. A further complication is the budding romance between Steve and the daughter of one of the shrimpers.