Based on the famous book by Ray Bradbury, this film portrays a future society where books and reading are forbidden and “firemen” are charged with the responsibility of setting and maintaining fires at the 451 degrees necessary to burn paper. One of the most adept of these firemen, Montag (Oskar Werner), decides to keep a book for himself, and in doing so, finds himself torn between the desire to adhere to his orders and the urge to defy the controlling government and join the opposing underground society.