| Director | Stanley Donen |
|---|---|
| Box office | $8 million |
Famous London-based theater actress Anna Kalman is bored with her latest romantic infatuation and has returned home early from a trip to Mallorca. Her sister, Margaret, and brother-in-law, Alfred Munson, arrive at Anna's apartment with Philip Adams, a handsome American economist who is being courted by Alfred to accept a NATO position in Paris. Rather than let Anna spend the evening alone, they urge her to attend the dinner lecture that Phillip is to give on economics. Initially unenthusiastic about sitting through a financial lecture, Anna is attracted by Philip's wry good-natured humor about boring speeches and agrees to accompany them.
At the end of the evening, when Anna invites Philip to the ballet, Philip informs her that he is married and does not want to accept her invitation under false pretense. He adds that he is separated and unable to get a divorce. Hesitant, Anna at first lets him take his leave, but calls him back and repeats the invitation, which Philip accepts gladly.
Anna and Philip hit it off on their first date and Philip accepts the position at NATO in Paris to be able to come to London frequently to be with Anna. As their romance blossoms, Philip receives a temporary transfer to New York for his work at NATO, which distresses Anna greatly as it will keep them apart for as much as five months.
On the day before Philip is scheduled to sail with the NATO team, Alfred reveals privately to Philip that he knows Philip is a bachelor and asks him why he told Margaret he is married. Philip responds that he has no intention of ever marrying, but women take such a declaration as a challenge; inevitably they feel cheated when the relationship does not lead to marriage. He contends that the "honorable" approach is to tell women that he is already married and cannot divorce; they can have no illusions when they subsequently grant him favors. Alfred is unsure of Philip's "honorable" approach but will keep his secret out of fellowship. Philip assures Alfred that he sincerely loves Anna and delights in pleasing her. He confides that he plans to delay his departure after the NATO team sets sail so he can surprise Anna at the stroke of midnight on her birthday, spend a few extra days with her, and later fly to join the team in New York.
When Anna tells Alfred and Margaret that she does not want to spend five months without Philip and plans to leave her play and fly to New York to surprise him, Alfred reluctantly discloses Philip's plan to surprise Anna on her birthday and spend a few extra days with her. Margaret then reveals that she has learned that Philip is unmarried by peeking at a Scotland Yard security report on Alfred's desk. Anna is furious upon learning this, but secretly forms a plan to get even with Philip for his deceit.
Anna arranges an elaborate ruse to make it appear that she is having an affair with David, an old flame, and let Philip catch David in her bedroom when he surprises her at midnight. Her plans go awry when David is hospitalized with a sports injury. She persuades her elderly butler, Carl, to stand in as David, step out of her bedroom in a silk robe as the clock strikes midnight, be seen in the shadows as Philip arrives for his surprise, and then step away quickly before being recognized. They practice Carl's entrance while the clock strikes twelve. Meanwhile, Philip has had second thoughts about his confirmed bachelorhood.
As the clock strikes midnight on Anna's birthday, Philip appears and proposes marriage to Anna, presenting her with a diamond bracelet, just as Carl slips in the room and then slips back into Anna's bedroom. Before Anna can explain the ruse, Philip expresses anger at her infidelity and leaves. Anna is distraught, but Philip returns, and she clears up the confusion. Anna suggests that they both forgive their deceptions and be happy with the way things are, but Philip now is adamant about getting married. Anna is overwhelmed with joy, and the couple embrace.