Plot: Madeline Goddard is a smart young woman who owns a fashionable dress shop in neutral Sweden during World War One. Though she is grateful to avoid the fighting, the courageous and stunningly pretty Madeline feels she should be doing more for her native France. She volunteers to work as an intelligence agent, smuggling maps and other documents within the fashionable garments she ships to wealthy customers in London. Madeline's activities are so successful that British intelligence soon comes to rely on her as their main pipeline for information. At about this time, a British official in Sweden asks her to cultivate the friendship of Baron Karl Von Marwitz, a tall, distinguished-looking German officer who is in charge of counter-espionage activities at the German embassy. Unknown to Madeline, the baron has been sent to Sweden for the express purpose of discovering and eliminating the top British spy who has been smuggling out German war plans. When Madeline and Karl meet, each recognizes the other as a deadly foe. But a smoldering attraction seems to grow each time they see each other. Madeline is dazed by her conflicting feelings and attempts to run away; however Von Marwitz is able to board her ship on the high seas and capture her as a spy. Soon afterwards, his own ship is torpedoed by a British destroyer sent to rescue Madeline. The mortally wounded Baron Von Marwitz dies in her arms, confessing his love. Madeline is hailed as a hero but turns to look out to sea, shedding tears over her gallant German lover.
Alternative Plot: World War I is raging, but Swedish store clerk Madeleine Goddard (Vivien Leigh) has not aligned herself with either side. When she meets German soldier Karl Von Marwitz (Conrad Veidt), she falls in love. Karl, who presents as a footman of low rank, is in fact a high-ranking official in the German army. Madeleine has secrets of her own -- she is a spy, working for the Allies. As Madeleine and Karl are pulled deeper into the war, their love may be the thing that saves their lives.
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