Haunted by the memory of Walter Holderlin, a soldier he killed during World War I, French musician Paul Renard (Phillips Holmes) confesses to a priest (Frank Sheridan), who grants him absolution. Using the address on a letter he found on the dead man's body, Paul then travels to Germany to find his family. As anti-French sentiment continues to permeate Germany, Dr. Holderlin (Lionel Barrymore) initially refuses to welcome Paul into his home, but changes his mind when his son's fiancée Elsa identifies him as the man who has been leaving flowers on Walter's grave. Rather than reveal the real connection between them, Paul tells the Holderlin family he was a friend of their son, who attended the same musical conservatory he did. Although the hostile townspeople and local gossips disapprove, the Holderlins befriend Paul, who finds himself falling in love with Elsa (Nancy Carroll). When she shows Paul her former fiancé's bedroom, he becomes distraught and tells her the truth. She convinces him not to confess to Walter's parents, who have embraced him as their second son, and Paul agrees to forego easing his conscience and stays with his adopted family. Dr. Holderlin presents Walter's violin to Paul, who plays it while Elsa accompanies him on the piano. The film's original title, The Man I Killed, was changed to The Fifth Commandment to avoid giving wrong impressions in the minds of the public about the character of the story. It ultimately was released as Broken Lullaby.
这部翻拍自《Cyrano de Bergerac》的校园片,把故事背景定在一所名为Caldermount的全男生寄宿学校,这所学校对体育成就的重视远远超过学术能力。笨拙但富有想像力的学生Amberson来自社会的最底层,当来访的法国老师那充满激情的女儿Agnes出现时,他的世界完全为之倾倒。即便如此,他仍为Agnes和英俊但极其愚蠢的学校体育英雄Winchester做媒。到底最后Amberson会否有勇气向她表明心迹,为自己挺身而出?