Crook’s Tour 1940

Charters and Caldicott, two charming and humorous British travelers, find themselves on an unexpected adventure as they tour the Middle East, specifically Saudi Arabia, with a group of fellow Britons. Their journey takes an unexpected turn when their vehicle suddenly breaks down in the desert, forcing them to seek help. During their stranded state, they encounter a caravan and are soon invited to dinner by a welcoming local sheikh. After sharing a glass of wine with the sheikh, they learn that he is worried about possible espionage targeting his oilfields. As a gesture of goodwill and trust, the sheikh offers to lend them two camels and shares his concerns about potential spies lurking nearby, which sets the stage for the tangled web of intrigue they will soon get embroiled in.

Their travels then lead them to Baghdad, where they visit a lively night club filled with music and mystery. Here, they are meant to meet two spies, and a glamorous figure named La Palermo, who exudes the allure of a Mata Hari-type seductive spy, unwittingly delivers a crucial note. The note is cleverly hidden on a record they order, which proves to be a vital clue, especially since the true spies also order the same record, raising suspicion. The situation intensifies when the actual spies, two Americans, arrive and the confusion escalates, revealing the spies’ plans and the importance of the record.

Meanwhile, our two protagonists fly towards Istanbul, but they are misled to a false hotel. La Palermo’s presence again signals danger, as she is involved in secretive activities. The duo suspects that the spies intend to eliminate them and take measures to defend themselves. They plan to kill La Palermo, and set a trap involving a bathroom with a deadly booby trap—a large hole leading into the Bosporus. In a humorous twist, Charters, believing he is slapping someone else on the back—Caldicott—accidentally causes him to fall into the water. Fearing repercussions, they hurriedly flee to Budapest. Here, Charters’ sister Edith arrives and struggles to locate their hotel amidst the confusion.

La Palermo resurfaces, breaking into Caldicott’s room in an attempt to retrieve the record. The following evening, the two spies are located performing in a local nightclub, singing “Gypsy Lover,” which provides the crucial lead for the British travelers. They pass the record to an English contact, but are surprised when the contact declares he “does not play cricket,” revealing that he is unaware of the spy code.

The adventure continues as they travel further east, reaching the outskirts of Hungary, and climb to a hilltop castle where La Palermo is hiding. Unfortunately, Charters and Caldicott are captured and sentenced to be executed by firing squad. Miraculously, La Palermo has arranged blanks in the guns, allowing the three to escape in a daring and humorous manner. A quick vehicle chase ensues, leading them to an airport, from where they board a boat across the Adriatic Sea, eventually returning safely to London. The story concludes with La Palermo sharing a tender moment with Caldicott, kissing him as their train approaches London, hinting at a romantic connection forged through their shared adventure.

Throughout their journey, the duo’s resilience, comedic timing, and the unexpected twists make for a delightful adventure into espionage, cultural clashes, and charming British humor.