Sean Thornton is a retired American boxer trying to put the tragedy of accidently killing an opponent behind him. Returning to the Irish town of his birth, he finds happiness when he falls in love the fiery Mary Kate. Though he is sorely tempted to pick up the gloves against her brother, the town bully, Sean is determined not to use his fists. Mary Kate and Sean wed but her brother refuses to pay the dowry. Sean would rather walk away than accept this challenge. Even when his new wife accuses him of cowardice, Sean stands firm. But when she boards a train to leave, he is finally ready to take matters in his own hands. The resulting fist-fight erupts into the longest brawl ever filmed, followed by one of the the most memorable reconciliations in motion picture history!