Gerald Meldrick [Clark Gable] and "Baroness" Anya von Duren [Rosalind Russell] are jewel thieves who operate separately in Bombay under British rule. Gerald poses as a detective from Lloyd’s of London, while Anya pretends to be an aristocrat. Their target is the Star of Asia, a priceless diamond owned by the aging Duchess of Beltravers [Jessie Ralph], who plans to display it at a glittering social event.
When the pair cross paths, neither recognizes the other’s deceit at first, but Gerald’s curiosity about Anya quickly turns into interest. He taunts her with a dare, exposing a bit of his own sly cunning, and then engineers a plan that makes her steal the gem and hand it over to him to avoid prosecution. Anya soon realizes she’s dealing with another consummate con artist, and she pursues him with a mix of anger and grudging admiration. Meanwhile, both are hunted by the law, and it becomes clear they must escape Bombay together. Inspector Cressney [Matthew Boulton], who had been guarding the jewel, vows revenge for being outwitted and outmaneuvered.
The escape takes the couple aboard a freighter bound for British Hong Kong, aided by the ship’s unscrupulous captain, Captain Chang [Peter Lorre]. On the voyage, Gerald and Anya peel back the layers of each other’s pasts, discover shared traumas and shared humor, and their initial rivalry softens into uneasy camaraderie that hints at something deeper. Yet Chang has guessed their identities, and he radios Inspector Cressney to turn them in for a hefty reward, setting the stage for a tense game of cat and mouse at sea.
Hong Kong comes into view on a foggy night, and the lovers slip away in a rowboat just before authorities close in. They sketch out a rough plan to flee the empire and eventually convert the diamond into money, but the war clouds gathering over the region force a dramatic shift. Gerald, a Canadian with a history in the British military, seizes an army uniform and adopts the name of a captain to pursue a new scheme—one that will require nerve, audacity, and proof of his loyalty in the face of danger.
The evacuation near Chaing Ling province brings the couple into contact with a diverse group of refugees, including Europeans and Chinese civilians. As British troops mobilize to counter the Japanese threat, Gerald commits himself to protecting the evacuees rather than slipping away with the diamond. He dismantles a looming crisis by rallying a defense against a Japanese assault, taking the risk of exposure to ensure the safety of those under his charge. He is wounded in the process and spends time recovering in a military hospital, where the image of his newly earned uniform lingers in his mind.
After his recovery, Gerald awaits discharge, and Anya admires the symbol of his newfound bravery. The moment of public recognition arrives in a formal ceremony in which General Allen [Reginald Owen] presents the Victoria Cross to the man they now call a war hero. The general’s words acknowledge the legend he has become, while also acknowledging the personal costs of a life built on deception. It is a nuanced moment in which heroism and past misdeeds collide, and Anya’s evolving perspective becomes crucial to what happens next.
Anya, having reevaluated her own choices, tells General Allen the truth about Gerald’s past and summons Cressney to the scene so that Gerald can face his comeuppance and consider starting anew. The inspector remains stubborn and uncompromising, intent on arresting the man who stole from him, but Gerald refuses to abandon the woman he has grown to trust. In a bold turn, he orders a column of soldiers to detain Cressney and ensures that the law can no longer threaten his future with Anya. The two of them depart together in a military vehicle, now bound by marriage and united in purpose.
Back in the general’s office, Gerald returns the Victoria Cross to General Allen for safekeeping until he might return to service—an act that cements the paradox at the heart of his story: a former criminal who has earned a measure of honor. The general smiles at the reconciliation of duty and love, and he even jests that he would trade the Star of Asia for something far more enduring.
As the film closes, the audience is left with a hopeful, defiant pairing who have walked a perilous path from theft and flight to confession, commitment, and a future they choose together.
> I would give up the Star of Asia for this any day.
