简介：ThemainstoryissetinaBritishMilitaryIntelligenceOfficeinWhitehallduring1956,whereasmallgroupofforeignaffairsanalystsfindtheirquietexistencedisruptedbytheSuezCrisis.EwanMcGregorplaysMickHopper,whoisdoinghisnationalserviceasaninterpreterofRussiandocuments.Boredwithhisjob,Hopperspendshisdayscreatingfantasydaydreamsthatinvolvehisworkcolleaguesbreakingintocontemporaryhitsongs.LouiseGermaineplaysSylviaBerry,theblondewifeoftheviolentCorporalPeteBerry(DouglasHenshall).SylviaisanobjectofdesireforMick'sfellowclerkPrivateFrancisFrancisandamiddle-agedpipe-organistnamedHaroldAtterbow(RoyHudd).Unlikethestreet-wiseHopper,FrancisisaclumsyWelshintellectualwhoseacademiccareerhasbeeninterruptedbyhisarmycallup.TheappearanceofthebookishnieceofasecondedAmericanofficerenablesthetwoconscriptstopairoffwithsuitablepartners,afterinitialmismatching.SomeofthesidethemesincludetheinfluenceofAmericanrockandrollonEnglishsociety,thegulfbetweenthesenioranalysts,whoareregulararmyofficers,andtheconscriptedotherranks,thewor