The film is an episodic narrative displaying examples of humankind's brutality, from the story of Cain and Abel through the Hague Convention of 1907.
The title track recounts how someone is inspired to kill his brother by reading the story of Cain and Abel in the Bible.
Dean Cain | Cain | Abel Ferrara | Jonathan Cain | Jessica Abel | Abel Gance | Ronald Nall-Cain, 2nd Baron Brocket | Niels Henrik Abel | Lady May Abel Smith | James David Cain | Cain and Abel | Abel | Tim Cain | Ronald Nall-Cain | Matt Cain's perfect game | Matt Cain | Commander Cain | Cain's Ballroom | Abel Seyler | Abel Carlevaro | Walter Abel | Ursula Cain | Thomas Abel Brimage Spratt | Jürgen Cain Külbel | Jean-Pierre Abel-Rémusat | Henry Abel Smith | Gerry Abel | Cindi Cain | Christopher Cain | Charles Abel Buffum |
The film shows a humorous version of four episodes of Genesis: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the Flood and the Tower of Babel, also Abraham appears very briefly at the end.
Gordon Wenham suggests that the name "Cain" means "smith" (which would anticipate the remarks about his metal-working skill), or that he is called "Tubal Cain" in order to distinguish him from the other Tubal, the son of Japheth.
In 1973 the Vatican purchased Cain and Abel (1961), to the satisfaction of Pope Paul VI.
Not only does it present direct and intimate conversations with God but some songs also feature stories of such biblical characters as Pontius Pilate, Judas, Matthew the Evangelist, or Cain and Abel.