In the middle of a violent storm, sailor Edmond Dantès is forced to take over command when the captain dies. Edmond steers the ship safely home to Marseille, where his beloved Mercedes awaits. Edmond is promoted to captain and plans a wedding with Mercedes. He feels like the happiest man in the world, but the happiness is short-lived. His rivals Danglars and Fernand hatch plans to have him imprisoned. 

Disguised, Edmond returns to Marseille, where he discovers that his father is dead and that Mercedes has married and moved to Paris. He heads to the island of Monte Cristo and finds the enormous treasure. Transformed into the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond begins his revenge.