Father Joseph Mohr, a newly appointed priest in the town of Oberndorf (near Salzburg), meets the beautiful prostitute Magdalene. He struggles to change her situation and make a new life for her, and while doing so, they fall in love. Mohr struggles with his feelings for her, versus his commitment to God. Meanwhile, the Prior, Mohr's superior, whose corrupt dealings with the Baron von Seidl are threatened by Mohr's integrity and honesty, works (unsuccessfully) to falsely accuse Mohr of sexual misconduct with Magdalene, and thereby remove him from office. Meanwhile, Mohr and local schoolteacher Franz Gruber compose the hymn "Silent Night".
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Steve BondFather Joseph Mohr | Father Joseph Mohr |
 Nastassja KinskiMagdalene | Magdalene |
 David WarnerBaron von Seidl | Baron von Seidl |
 Günter MeisnerPrior | Prior |
 Cyrus EliasFranz Gruber | Franz Gruber |
 Katharina BöhmHelga | Helga |
 Ferdy MayneArchbishop | Archbishop |
 Franco NeroJanza | Janza |
 Anthony QuayleFather Noessler | Father Noessler |
| WWilliam Carr HickeyRudolf | Rudolf |
 Janet ÅgrenAnna | Anna |
 Max TidofRobert | Robert |
| KKarina SzulcElisabeth | Elisabeth |
| RRalf WeikingerBaader | Baader |
 Ulrich GüntherHans | Hans |
| AArmin KraftKonrad | Konrad |
| HHans-Christoph von GoetzMauracher (as Christoph von Goetz) | Mauracher (as Christoph von Goetz) |
| FFrancesca FerreSophia | Sophia |