Whensong-and-dancemanHarryVanreturnsfromWorldWarI,hefindsworkhardtocomeby.Hisgreatestsuccesscomesasstraightmaninaphonyvaudevillemind-readingactwiththetipsyMadameZulieka.WhileontourinOmahahemeetsacrobatIreneFellara,andtheyhaveabriefromance.TwentyyearslaterwhileHarryisontourinEuropewithatroupeofleggyblondedancers,histrainisstoppedattheSwissborderandhefindshimselfstrandedintheAlpsinanticipationofWorldWarIIhostilities.HarryandhischorinestakerefugeinanAlpinehotelwithagroupofdisparatetravelerswhoarealsomaroonedthere.AmongthemareanAmericanpacifist,Britishnewlyweds,acancerresearcher,aGermanmunitionsmanufacturer,andabeautifulblondeexpatriateRussianaristocratwholookssuspiciouslyliketheIreneoftwodecadesearlier.