During the First World War, female German spy Fraulein Doktor (Suzy Kendall) and her squadron of saboteurs are assigned by German Intelligence Col. Mathesius (Nigel Green) to risked plan : to kill Lord Kitchener , obtain the Allied defense plans , and to rob the new French mustard-gas formula from its inventor . Fräulein Doktor herself comes off as interesting and particularly sexy, and her exploits , impacting the fortunes of nations in the high stakes game of WWI espionage . Fraulein Doctor with smouldering allure has relationships with high-ranking military officers, aristocrats , people with influential positions in many countries and even a lesbian romance with a key role , Dr. Saforet (Capucine) . Now she must go behind the enemy lines and get the enemy plans , posing as a nurse but Col. Foreman (Kenneth More) goes afer her . As the German army plans to use the new French mustard-gas on the battlefield during the upcoming German offensive commanded by Ludendorff against the Allied armies and the British secret service attempt to avoid it . Espionage that began with a kiss !The deadliest game of espionage ... where betrayal began with a kiss. Espionage... that begins with a kiss fires the fuse of the poison gas war ! .
Notable warfare movie set in WWI, in which the German intelligence sends a team of saboteurs to Allied headquarters in Belgium to steal the secret Allied defense plans and a female spy to Scotland to kill Lord Kitchener and other dangerous assignments , it contains intrigue , suspense , thrills , emotion and excellent battle scenes . This is a thought-provoking and intelligent war drama perfectly acted by strong cast and masterfully written by great writers as Vittoriano Petrilli (story) , H. A. L. Craig (screenplay) , Stanley Mann (uncredited) , Duilio Coletti (uncredited) and director Albert Lattuada himself . Although the story is inspired on real events , in a Mata Hari-style character , it's mostly a historical fiction , though Fräulein Doktor is loosely based on the life of Elsbeth Schragmüller who died of miliary tuberculosis in 1940 . It depicts a brooding study about spy word and futility as well as insanity of war , making a shattering accusation against the criminal military means by using the lethal mustard gas against the defenceless soldiers in the terrible trenches . Main and support cast deliver stunning performances . As Suzi Kendall gives a nice acting as a German female spy , known as Fraulein Doktor, who is tasked with stealing the new mustard-gas formula from its French female inventor and other misssions . While the support cast is frankly good with plenty of British and Italian actors such as : Nigel Green , Alexander Knox , Capucine , James Booth , Silvia Monti , Mario Novelli and Giancarlo Giannini .
Here stands out the emotive and stirring soundtrack by the great Ennio Morricone , though the initial music on the credit titles is really bizarre , but subsequently goes on his usual style . As well as colorful and evocative cinematography by Luigi Kuveiller, shot on location in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Dino de Laurentiis studios , Rome , Italy . This Italian/Yugoslavian co-production was very well produced by Dino de Laurentiis and competently directed by Alberto Lattuada. This was an Italian neo-realist film director and fully qualified architect. Co-founded the first film library in Italy, prior to working as an assistant to Mario Soldati. As director in his own right became noted for visual style . His subjects were intense dramas , and some often satirical, and others comedies directed against socio-political hipocrisy . He was a prestigious writer and director, known for La Chicharra (1980) , Padre putativo (1974) , Guendalina (1957), Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo (1947) , Luces de Variete , Ana , La steppa , Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo , among others . Rating : 7/10. Better than average , Well worth watching .
