This World War II comedy from Shepperton Studios stars Peter Sellers in multiple roles.
His international co-stars include Lila Kedrova as Madame Grenier, the resourceful ‘Madame’ of a brothel; Curt Jurgens as von Grotjahn, a German general not entirely in step with his Fuhrer; and Beatrice Romand as Madame Grenier’s innocent niece from the country who soon learns about life from her worldly-wise aunt.
As the Germans sweep victoriously into Paris, Mme Grenier and her girls bid farewell to their French and English clients as they philosophically prepare to service the elite of the occupying German forces.
Under the patronage of one of Madame’s early admirers, von Grotjahn, it looks as if the establishment will flourish. However, fate in the guise of a British Intelligence officer decrees otherwise.
He involves Madame in daring plots against the German High Command and she becomes an honorary colonel (code name: Venus) in General de Gaulle’s Free French Forces, managing to keep one step ahead of a highly suspicious Gestapo chief.
The climax sees Hitler’s design to blow up Paris foiled. while Madame and her brave ‘girls’ are decorated by a grateful French President.
The glamorous international beauties playing inmates of the brothel include England’s Jenny Hanley, French brunette Francoise Pascal, Polish redhead Rula Lenska (making her film debut), blue-eyed blonde Daphne Lawson, Belgian-Russian Carolle Rousseau, Gabriella Licudi (of Greek-German-Spanish descent) and Creole actress/model Hylette Adolphe from the French island of Mauritius.
Released in some markets as Undercovers Hero.
Général Latour
Peter Sellers Major Robinson
Peter Sellers Herr Schroeder
Peter Sellers Adolf Hitler
Peter Sellers M. Le Président des Forces Spéciales
Peter Sellers Prince Kyoto
Peter Sellers Madame Grenier
Lila Kedrova General von Grotjahn
Curt Jurgens Marie-Claude
Béatrice Romand Michèlle
Jenny Hanley Simone
Gabriella Licudi Madeleine
Françoise Pascal Alan Cassidy
Rex Stallings Louise
Rula Lenska Claudine
Daphne Lawson Mlle. Tom-Tom
Hylette Adolphe Helene
Carolle Rousseau Padre
Vernon Dobtcheff Kapitan Kneff
Douglas Sheldon General Erhardt
Thorley Walters
Director
Roy Boulting
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As the Germans sweep victoriously into Paris, Mme Grenier and her girls bid farewell to their French and English clients as they philosophically prepare to service the elite of the occupying German forces.
