James Mason portrays "Easton," a dissolute Royal Navy officer who drifts through his work until he encounters "Virginia" (Vera Miles), prompting him to improve both his performance and finances. He manages the former with relative ease, but resolving the financial issue proves trickier, leading him to concoct an elaborate scheme involving a staged defection to the Soviets followed by a return and a lawsuit against newspapers that spread false information about him. Complicating matters is the fact that Virginia is already promised to "Sir Charles Holland" (George Sanders). “Easton” carries out his plan with considerable visibility, only to discover upon his return that events are more complex than he initially thought—and it’s unclear who holds the advantage in a game of cat and mouse. Mason delivers a strong performance, perfectly embodying the charming rogue, while Miles' portrayal is less captivating, and Sanders appears too infrequently for his character to truly gain momentum. The film has moments of humor, and Guy Hamilton’s direction, along with a solid script, maintains a steadily increasing pace toward an unconventional conclusion.

Source on TMDB