In a country house of Galicia (Spain), Teresa and Fernando, beset by their economic situation, rent rooms to Mr. Morell and his niece Lina, who are looking for a quiet place to rest. Everything seems normal but, at night, when the doors of the rooms are closed, it seems as if uncle and niece apparently practice spiritualism.

The troubled story of the Churruca family, a noble lineage of brave seamen, descendants of Cosme Damián Churruca, the Spanish hero of the Battle of Trafalgar; from the Spanish-American War (1898) to the end of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). (In 1950, a new cut of the film was released with less ideological depth and ten minutes shorter.)

In Madrid, Spain, at the end of the 19th century, the young and reckless Basilio seems to be the only person who perceives the spectral presence of Professor Robinsón de Mantua, who begs him to take care of his niece Inés, because she is in grave danger.

A Dutch sailing ship finds the wreckage of a Spanish mail ship, which has collided with an iceberg. Inside, the bodies of a man and a woman are found embraced.