It's post war Rome. In the British headquarters, one-armed Col. Nicobar (Walter Pidgeon) expects to go home but is instead reassigned to Vienna to fight subversive activities. He is joined by his aides, Junior Commander Audrey Quail (Angela Lansbury), Major McPhimister (Peter Lawford), and Private David Moonlight. They are told to repatriating citizens back to the Soviet Union which is still an Allie. They are assigned to live in a convent run by Mother Superior (Ethel Barrymore) which is also hosting ballerina Maria Buhlen (Janet Leigh). McPhimister falls for the dancer.
The Soviet Union is transitioning from an Allie to an enemy. It portrays the situation with good realism. I would prefer to center the movie around McPhimister and his ballerina. They could go on the run and make a great thriller out of this. Instead, this is a little flat. It has some compelling scenes but it lacks tension. This wears its anti-communist sentiments on its sleeves. It even has the familiarity of the cattle train.
The Soviet Union is transitioning from an Allie to an enemy. It portrays the situation with good realism. I would prefer to center the movie around McPhimister and his ballerina. They could go on the run and make a great thriller out of this. Instead, this is a little flat. It has some compelling scenes but it lacks tension. This wears its anti-communist sentiments on its sleeves. It even has the familiarity of the cattle train.