American actress Barbara Mullen stars in this charming British comedy as a Scottish old maid who slaves in her dour father's house. When he dies she decides to go to work as a servant until she discovers he'd left her almost 300 pounds. She decides to go to Vienna because she likes Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz." The unworldly woman soon gets into to all kinds of jams on the boat crossing the channel and then on the train across Europe. Luckily, she bumps into a salesman (Michael Redgrave) who decides to take the woman under his wing. He's also bound for Vienna where he hopes to sell a patent for a new type of washing machine.
In Vienna and with her hotel reservation fouled up, she embark to the Hotel Splendide where Redgrave is staying. They also meet two moochers: a bankrupted count (Albert Lieven) who thinks Mullen is an heiress, and a party girl (Kay Hammond) out for a good time and a free meal.
After a week or so, Mullen is about out of money but has experienced the delights of Vienna, including hearing her favorite song. And after several mix-ups with Redgrave, she goes back home to find a job as a servant. Is she destined to a life of drudgery? Mullen is a delight as the sensible Scot who learns a thing or two on her trip. Redgrave turns in another terrific performance as the bemused salesman. Hammond and Lieven are solid. Cast also includes Wilfrid Lawson as the father, Rachel Kempson and Joan Kemp-Welch as her sisters, Katie Johnson as Mathilde, Phyllis Stanley as the neighbor. Also look for Googie Withers, Max Adrian, Sebastian Cabot, and Esme Percy.
Mullen's film debut.
