In 1865, General Gurko Lanen (George Sanders) is the evil dictator of the European state of ""Lichtenburg"". The rightful ruler is the beautiful Grand Duchess Zona (Joan Bennett) and in her attempt to get assistance to overthrow the General, she hopes to get aid from Napoleon III of France. The visiting Count of Monte Cristo (Louis Hayward) falls for Zona and undertakes to help her. During the day, the Count is portrayed as a foppish banker and at night he becomes the masked and caped freedom fighter, The Torch. The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic tale of good verses evil, thinly disguised as an indictment against 20th century dictatorships as well as being full of good old fashioned rapid-fire intrigue and derring-do.