在这部帕尔马修道院片中,改编自司汤达的长篇小说。主人公法布利斯从小赢得姑妈的疼爱，长成英俊青年后吸引了很多女人的青睐；他从滑铁卢战场回到帕尔马，当上副主教后，邂逅一女伶，因误杀女伶的情夫被迫逃往博洛尼亚，百无聊赖之际又遇上女歌唱家浮斯塔，上演了一场风流韵事的闹剧，但这些都不是爱情。直到他锒铛入狱遇到要塞司令的女儿克莱莉娅以后，才变成另一个人，演绎了一段催人泪下的爱情故事。
Fabrice del Dongo, a young archbishop, gives his all to romance rather than to the Church, creating complications for everyone around. The Countess of San Severina, is but one of the women who love him a la folie, spurring jealous retribution in high places from those who in turn want her. From his prison window, Fabrice falls in love with the jailer's daughter who takes a vow to the Virgin Mary to never see him again if his escape succeeds.
