Me and the Colonel

Jacobowsky, a resourceful Jewish refugee, manages to acquire a car from the absent Baron Rothschild's chauffeur, giving him crucial mobility. The purchase marks the first step in a desperate plan to flee the advancing German army. With the car in hand, he begins shaping the journey ahead.

Colonel Prokoszny requisitions the car, intending to use it for his mission to deliver secret papers. He quickly discovers that Jacobowsky's wit and the car’s limited fuel complicate the seizure, forcing an uneasy collaboration. The fragile alliance is born out of necessity rather than trust.

The ill-matched duo—Prokoszny and Jacobowsky—set off with Szabuniewicz, their orderly, driving away from Paris as German forces press inward. They head toward Reims, trying to stay ahead of the Wehrmacht. The escape hinges on the car’s speed and a growing, reluctant camaraderie.

The group reaches Reims to collect Suzanne Roualet, a French innkeeper's daughter, whose fate could influence their chances of crossing the border. Major von Bergen's attention to Suzanne foreshadows danger, though he is called away before contact is made. The detour intensifies the tension as the escape continues southward.

Suzanne's presence catches Major von Bergen's eye, creating a dangerous distraction as the group tries to stay hidden from the advancing German forces. He is pulled away before meeting her, leaving the immediate threat behind for the moment. The dynamic adds personal stakes to the political crisis.

While fleeing south, Jacobowsky falls in love with Suzanne, complicating his previously practical motives. His feelings tug him between loyalty to Prokoszny and care for Suzanne, shaping decisions along the road. The romantic undercurrent deepens the drama of their perilous journey.

At a stop, Jacobowsky persuades a proud château owner that unoccupied France will become a monarchy led by Prokoszny, winning them lodging for the night. The deception buys them shelter but also invites new tensions within the caravan. The owner’s Royalist pride mirrors the fragile political fantasy surrounding their escape.

Inside the château, a drunken Prokoszny challenges Jacobowsky to a duel, testing the limits of their fragile alliance. Jacobowsky defuses the confrontation with humor and tact, avoiding bloodshed and preserving at least a tenuous cooperation. The moment underscores how luck and wit keep them moving forward.

Germans under Major von Bergen occupy the château, forcing the group to flee in a panic. They barely break away as the invaders tighten their hold on the countryside. The capture marks a turning point that deepens their desperation to reach safety.

A sympathetic Mother Superior offers aid, helping them shake off pursuit as they race toward a prearranged rendezvous with a British submarine. The plan represents their best hope of escaping occupied Europe by sea. The act of mercy alters the members' resolve and accelerates their departure.

At the submarine, a commander informs them that there is room for only two passengers. Suzanne persuades Prokoszny and Jacobowsky to take the last seats, while she and Szabuniewicz stay behind to fight in their own way. The decision crystallizes the personal sacrifice at the heart of the escape.

Suzanne and Szabuniewicz stay behind to resist the invaders in their own way, choosing to risk everything to delay the German advance. They prepare to fight from the shore or any remaining outposts as the others sail away. Their sacrifice highlights the personal stakes in the broader war.

Just after boarding, Prokoszny panics when he realizes he doesn't have the secret documents on him. The danger of failure suddenly becomes real, threatening the mission and their safety. The tension peaks as he searches for the missing papers on the moving vessel.

Jacobowsky reveals the secret documents hidden in his scarf, ensuring the mission's continuation and revealing his cunning under pressure. Prokoszny, mollified, concedes that he likes Jacobowsky more and more, ending the film on a note of reluctant respect. The exchange seals a fragile alliance born out of necessity.