This flashback told tale is set up when British officer receives the titled earrings in the mail and lets loose with his story. It was World War II when Milland, on a secret mission in Germany, escaped from a prisoner of war camp and hooked up with lone gypsy Marlene Dietrich who helps him hide so he can complete a secret mission. Horny Dietrich latches on to him like tomato sauce onto spaghetti, pierces his ears and plants dark make-up upon him. Before you know it, Milland is telling Nazi soldiers their fortunes while realizing that finding Dietrich was the best thing that has yet happened to him.
"His blood will turn to milk and his bones will crumble!" Dietrich tells Milland of a former lover who ran off on her. Yet, he sticks around, determined to complete his mission and helping the Allies beat the Nazis. "Today in Germany, everybody is watched. Even the watchers", the inventor of a gas that the Germans want for destructive purposes and the British want to (allegedly) only keep out of the German's hands.
The aging Dietrich, overloaded in dark make-up, overly long eye lashes and an excess of veils, is pure camp as the extremely over affectionate gypsy, with Murvyn Vye as one of her gypsy beaus who initially resents Milland. As silly as he looks in the dark make-up and earrings (like Othello on acid), Milland gives a subtle performance.
In spite of being so silly, this is one of those truly enjoyable war films that may not represent any type of reality but is never dull. The title song is one of those odd musical moments in films that just come out of nowhere and makes you wonder if Gene Wilder was off in some distant castle bring a monster back to life.
"His blood will turn to milk and his bones will crumble!" Dietrich tells Milland of a former lover who ran off on her. Yet, he sticks around, determined to complete his mission and helping the Allies beat the Nazis. "Today in Germany, everybody is watched. Even the watchers", the inventor of a gas that the Germans want for destructive purposes and the British want to (allegedly) only keep out of the German's hands.
The aging Dietrich, overloaded in dark make-up, overly long eye lashes and an excess of veils, is pure camp as the extremely over affectionate gypsy, with Murvyn Vye as one of her gypsy beaus who initially resents Milland. As silly as he looks in the dark make-up and earrings (like Othello on acid), Milland gives a subtle performance.
In spite of being so silly, this is one of those truly enjoyable war films that may not represent any type of reality but is never dull. The title song is one of those odd musical moments in films that just come out of nowhere and makes you wonder if Gene Wilder was off in some distant castle bring a monster back to life.