Harry Palmer, an ex-army corporal, unwillingly serves as a spy for Her Majesty rather than serve a long stint behind bars. Palmer is sent to Berlin where he is to extricate a Russian general who wants to defect. After reluctantly accepting the assignment, he arranges for an escape plan which includes a fake funeral; unfortunately, the wrong body is transported out of Russia. Palmer keeps his cool had there's plenty of scenery as he wanders about Berlin and in and out of the arms of some beautiful women.