JeanArthurstarsasCongresswomanPhoebeFrostinWilder'ssatireofAmericansexualmores.Shearrivesinbombed-outpostwarBerlinin1947aspartofacongressionaldelegationassignedtoinvestigatethemoralbehavioroftheAmericanoccupyingtroops.Aspartofhermission,shedeliversacakebakedbyhisfianceetoCapt.JohnPringle(JohnLund),whoimmediatelytradesitontheblackmarketforamattress,whichhetakestotheapartmentofhiscurrentgirlfriend,ErikavonSchluetow(MarleneDietrich),analluringGermannightclubsinger.Whiletouringthecity,researchingtheG.I.sappetiteforblondGermanwomenandalcohol,Phoebe,mistakenforaGerman,ispickedupbysomeofthesoldiersandtakentoaclubwhichfeaturesthesingingofErika.Whensheseesafamiliarcakebeingserved,shebecomessuspiciousandordersJohntowatchthewoman'sapartmenttoidentifyherAmericanlover.AfterseeingsomenewsreelfootageofErikawithHitler,PhoebeasksJohntoshowherthewoman'sfile,buthedistractsherfromfurtherinvestigationbycomingontothecongresswoman,whorespondswithsurprisingpassion.Acomedyedgedwithcruelty,itfeaturesoneofDietrich'squintessentialperformances.