[citation needed] During the Cold War in Greece, NATO radar and missile systems experience mysterious problems caused by small breakdowns electronic black boxes.

His wife, Shanny, takes over the investigation despite the opposition of the head of the secret service, Mr. Sharps.

Dex and Shanny unmask the culprit Khalidès by discovering the black boxes, which he has hidden in the statue replicas which he produces and sells.

Through his henchmen, Khalidès has Shanny kidnapped and brought on a mule to an ancient temple on top of a mountain.

[4] TV Guide called it "a spoofy spy-lark" and said "Chabrol delights in turning cliches inside out" while "demonstrating how much fun can be had from subverting the wildly improbable plot twists and unlikely events which are typical of spy capers.