Ten Tall Men

In a covert operation, Mike Kincaid and his unit seize an important Rif prisoner. The mission showcases Kincaid's skill but also foreshadows trouble with the local commandant. The capture sets the stage for the punishment that follows.

Kincaid strikes the lieutenant who attacked a French woman, triggering the lieutenant's revenge. As a result, Kincaid is imprisoned along with seven prisoners and the Rif prisoner. The lieutenant uses this incident to solidify control over Tarfa's garrison.

Corporal Delgado and Corporal Molier smuggle food and water to Kincaid and the Rif prisoner. Kincaid shares the rations with the Rif, easing their mutual desperation. The act forges a fragile bond among unlikely allies behind bars.

The Rif prisoner warns that Tarfa will soon be attacked while the garrison is weak. He hints at a larger conflict that could decide the city's fate. Kincaid uses the warning to reassess his options and protect Tarfa.

Kincaid proposes a guerrilla hit-and-run strategy to slow the attackers for five days until the regiment can return. The lieutenant agrees, but only if Kincaid testifies that the idea was his. Seven prisoners receive full pardons, and the two corporals join the mission, bringing the total to ten.

With pardons granted, the ten-man unit is formed, including Kincaid, the two corporals, and seven former prisoners. They prepare to depart for the desert to execute the delayed-attack plan. The team readies equipment and reconnaissance for their risky mission.

While scouting an enemy camp, the Legionnaires learn that two rival tribes have joined forces, strengthening the attacking coalition. Kincaid uses disguise and language to uncover that Rif leader Khalid Hussein intends a marriage with Mahla to seal the alliance. This discovery sets up the kidnapping tactic.

Kincaid abducts Mahla to force the enemy to chase the Legionnaires for five days. Mahla begins to fall for her captor, complicating the political calculations of the tribes. Hussein's pursuing forces are driven across the desert.

During the pursuit, the party discovers a destroyed Legion truck containing a payroll safe. Jardine tries to flee with the payroll, but he is shot, exposing the convoy's location to the Rif. The discovery raises the stakes and accelerates the chase.

Kincaid is captured by Hussein's forces, but Mahla pleads for his safety. She declares she will not marry Hussein if Kincaid is harmed, forcing Hussein to release him unharmed. The personal bond complicates the ongoing military mission.

Kincaid and his men infiltrate the wedding ceremony, triggering a firefight amid the celebrations. The chaos reveals shifting loyalties and weakpoints in Hussein's camp. The distraction buys time for Mahla's tribe to move against Hussein.

As the battle rages, Mahla's tribe abandons Hussein and joins Kincaid's side. Hussein is killed, and the balance of power tilts decisively in favor of Kincaid's group. The confrontation ends with Tarfa's fate sealed.