At the end of a successful military career, womanizing Gen. Leo Fitzjohn (Peter Sellers) retires to his countryside manor with his unbearable wife, Emily (Margaret Leighton), and their two disappointing daughters. When his platonic French mistress Ghislaine (Dany Robin) -- a woman from his past -- arrives at the door, Fitzjohn is prepared to take the relationship to the next level. However, Fitzjohn has to compete for Ghislaine's affections against his own aide, Lt. Robert Finch (John Fraser).