It is 19th century Europe, and Captain Harry Flashman (McDowell) is a gutless bully who seeks admission into high European society. Seeing a chance to promote their own menacing political schemes, devious Otto Von Bismarck (Oliver Reed) and Rudi Von Sternberg (Alan Bates) convince Flashman to disguise himself as a Prussian noble so that he he can marry a gorgeous duchess (Britt Ekland). However, the hoax is discovered, and Flashman flees the continent, experiencing one calamity after another - as well as some of history's most significant events - in this hilarious romp that might make you laugh instead of marvel at the next comic book "hero" you encounter!