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The Climbers is the third film version of the same-named play by Clyde Fitch. Whereas the original play took place in contemporary America, the 1927 movie version was transplanted to the Spanish Empire, during the reign of King Ferdinand VII (Max Barwyn). In her efforts to enrich herself and increase her social prestige, the Duchess of Aragon (Irene Rich) has become a cruel despot, ruling her land holdings in Puerto Rico with an iron fist. Rising up against the Duchess' tyranny is the Robin Hood-like bandit El Blanco, who by day is the foppish Duke Cordova (Forrest Stanley). The plot becomes as thick as pea soup when El Blanco falls for the Duchess' daughter Laska (Flobelle Fairbanks). For the record, the original The Climbers had something to do with a social-climbing husband who is disgraced after destroying the lives of his loved ones.