An adaptation of Franz Werfel's play. It's a romantic comedy drama with a serious undertone. It tells the story of a little Polish refugee called Jacobowsky, a tall Polish Colonel, and a beautiful French girl named Marianne. The story begins in Paris, on June 13th 1940, and there has been an air raid alert. The guests of a small hotel have gathered down in the basement, in the laundry, where the proprietor is trying to reassure everyone of their safety.