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.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Shirley MacLaineAnna Vorontosov | Anna Vorontosov |
 Laurence HarveyPaul Lathrope | Paul Lathrope |
 Jack HawkinsWilliam W.J. Abercrombie | William W.J. Abercrombie |
 Nobu McCarthyWhareparita | Whareparita |
 Ronald LongHeadmaster Reardon | Headmaster Reardon |
 Norah HowardMrs. Cutter | Mrs. Cutter |
 Juano HernándezChief Rauhuia | Chief Rauhuia |
 Edmund VargasMatawhero (uncredited) | Matawhero (uncredited) |
| NNeil WoodwardMark Cutter (uncredited) | Mark Cutter (uncredited) |
| LLisa SitjarHinewaka (uncredited) | Hinewaka (uncredited) |
| AAlan RobertsSeven (uncredited) | Seven (uncredited) |