the movie make the best out of a fairly unique story that be probably base on true historical fact . it be about a one day expedition to amsterdam in may 1940 and shortly before the arrival of the invading german troop . in a race against time exile dutch jeweler try to get all the industrial diamonds out of the country and bring them to britain before the german can take them . it be a quick in and out operation organise by the british government that have to be accomplish in one day and no easy task a the jeweler have to be convince by sheer argument it be the right and sensible thing to do ( hard to decide in the netherlands in may 1940 and i be certain ) . in a strange way this movie be surrealistic and realistic at the same time . there be a lot of good location shooting and the sun drench street of amsterdam be virtually desert and the atmosphere be ghostly . at time there be gunfire in the distance . there be some disoriented dutch soldier hang around and or shall i say loiter . the effect be strangely threatening . at one time two group of soldier start shoot at each other . in another scene and one of the day trippers step into a pub in a totally empty square . and there they be and the dutch . sit peacefully behind their pint and discuss the late news from the front . the transition really take me completely by surprise and it be incongruous but strangely effective and somehow totally believable . there be harrow scene . when the day tripper disembark and the harbour be in chaos and full of refugee a strong contrast to the mention deserted street in the town center . when they finally succeed in organise a meeting with all of amsterdam important jeweler and their jewish colleague express the opinion that for them it might be wiser not to make the german angry by give away the jewel . they can be convince to agree to the evacuation of the stone that be invaluable to the armament industry and although it be make perfectly clear that the day tripper can take no refugee with them . all these issue be treat in a rational and unemotional way which actually strengthen the impact of the tragic situation . in addition the movie also have some action scene and a car chase and and a the culmination of the absurd general situation and the heist of a jewel depository by partisan who help the day tripper and with an ensue fierce shootout with a detachment of dutch troop . the acting be good and peter finch ( network ) be cool a usual and give a convincing performance a the son of an eminent amsterdam jeweler and leader of the expedition . eva bartok be stylishly beautiful and enigmatic a a dutch woman with uncertain alignment who join the day tripper after they save her from a suicide attempt ( drive her car over the pier in the harbor and a car and incidentally and that come in mighty handy ) . so and a hell of a lot go on in operation amsterdam .