Malcolm Waite

　　After a short split prologue showing riches as the root of evil in ancient and modern times, the film settles into 1914 France, where the Orient Express is about to be wrecked when a bridge washes out. Among those on board are Al and Travis, Americans who are traveling Europe spending Travis' money, and Marie, a German girl. The boys save Marie after the wreck and Travis falls in love with her. When World War I breaks out Al wants to enlist, but Travis can't, feeling loyal to Marie, a German. By 1917 Al has enlisted, and Travis follows him shortly after marrying Marie. Accused of being a German spy by a Russian agent, she is sentenced to die but is recognized by Travis, who is part of the firing squad. The town they are in is shelled and they are all trapped underground, during which a minister makes a lengthy parallel to ancient times when the King of Akkad persecuted his subjects and defied Jehovah, who finally sends a flood to wipe out mankind, except for Noah and his family, whom he has instructed to build an ark and fill it with two of every creature on earth.

流浪汉查理（查理·卓别林 Charlie Chaplin 饰）随队伍来到阿拉斯加淘金。他在一间小木屋里碰见了通缉犯拉逊，接着淘金人吉姆也闯进来，并抢走了拉逊的枪。拉逊出去找食物时发现了吉姆正在开发的金矿，于是他没回木屋。小木屋里，饥肠辘辘的查理煮了皮鞋充饥，饿的神智恍惚的吉姆却把查理想象成火鸡追杀。突然，一头熊撞进来，两人一起把熊打死，饱餐之后分道扬镳。吉姆发现了拉逊占了自己的金矿坑，拉逊将他打昏，不料却在逃跑时掉下深谷。 　　查理在小镇邂逅舞女乔治亚（乔治亚·黑尔 Georgia Hale 饰），帮她摆脱暴发户的骚扰。第二次又巧遇她时，查理邀她除夕共餐，但是乔治亚爽约了，失落的查理只能在幻梦中为她表演舞蹈。被打成失忆的吉姆在镇上重遇查理，他请查理帮他一起找金矿。两人回到小木屋，却被大风雪吹落下了万丈深渊。醒来时他们惊喜地发现金矿正在身边。查理与吉姆淘金...