the story take place in rural germany on the eve of the second world war and a unique setting and with a couple of british agent be hold by the german in a farm house . since they aren not technically at war yet and it seem a if both side must have realize what be come . both agent ( bruce lester and ray milland ) escape into the countryside and split up . milland happen upon gypsy woman marlene dietrich one evening a she alone at her camp preparing dinner . their encounter be an amazing and captivate scene and not so much for milland but for dietrich and who take sexy sultriness to a whole new plane . milland disguise himself a a gypsy in order to hide from the german and but he remain committed to his mission and to do with locate the scientist who know the formula for a new poison gas but who also isn not a committed nazi . the hollywood take on gypsy life and custom be predictably portrayed and but the underlying knowledge that they would be one of the target for extermination by the nazis add a certain tension . the film straddle the line between be a serious story about the poison gas and the urgent search to get the formula and and a colorful though not too convincing love story between milland and dietrich . however and theyre both very good while it the fault of the film that do not give them or their relationship enough dramatic realism and relying on and exploit obvious cultural difference for questionable comedic purpose . nonetheless and there be some tense and interesting point here and there and the surprise meeting with german soldier and gestapo agent and where dietrich do a great palm reading and milland nearly as good fake one and and a dinner party of german of various stripe at which the announcement come over the radio that germany have be attack by poland and everyone stand and do a stiff arm salute . mitchell leison may have miss some opportunity here and there and but he fully take advantage of others .