The ocean liner New Moon is on the Caspian Sea, sailing to the Russian port of Krasnov. A party of Russian soldiers are on board [Gypsy Chorus].Lieutenant Michael Petroff, a womanizer, is at a bar, flirting in the mirror with a young woman. He is warned that the woman is Princess Tanya Strogoff, who is accompanied by her uncle, Count Igor, and her aunt, Countess Anastasia. Michael immediately leaves, but Tanya follows him out.
Michael Petroff entertains his fellow travellers with the bawdy ‘Farmer’s Daughter’
Anastasia panics when she notices Tanya’s absence, knowing what always happens when her niece disappears.
Tanya watches Michael sing with a crowd of gypsies and soldiers [Farmer’s Daughter]; the song is in a gypsy language and is clearly risqué. Michael notices Tanya just as she is being dragged away by her aunt. He fears he will be in trouble and explains to his orderly, Potkin, that he does not like princesses, because they think they are different from other women.
Michael spots a beautiful young woman and follows her, entering a room where he finds Tanya waiting. She interrogates him about the song he was singing, asking to hear the lyrics, so Michael cleans them up. Tanya then reveals that she understands the gypsy language and is fully aware of how suggestive the words are [Farmer’s Daughter]. Michael realizes that Tanya had used her servant to lure him into the room.
They drink and talk, and Michael confesses that he had almost forgotten that she was a princess. Tanya offers to help him forget altogether and they kiss. Igor knocks at the door. Anastasia has sent him to ask what Tanya is doing, but the insouciant Igor clearly knows exactly what is going on. He returns to his cabin and, when Anastasia asks if Tanya is in bed, replies “not yet”.
On the last evening of the voyage, Michael and Tanya are alone on deck, where she continues to flirt with him. Michael asks when they will be able to stop pretending that they do not love each other. Tanya promises that it will be the following day. Tanya is prevailed upon to sing and she asks Michael to join her [Wanting You].
Princess Tanya Strogoff (Grace Moore), getting along nicely with Michael
In Krasnov, Tanya allows Michael to believe that they will see each other again, but he soon realizes that she has come to Krasnov to marry the wealthy governor, Boris Brusiloff. Michael drowns his sorrows in a tavern [Lover Come Back to Me].
At the governor’s palace, a ball is being held in Tanya’s honour. Igor warns his niece to keep out of dark corners until the marriage is in the bag. Tanya is very coy with Boris, to the extent that he calls her prudish [One Kiss]. Michael crashes the ball and dances with Tanya, who tries to convince him they merely had a shipboard flirtation. He leads her into a private room, and Igor is unable to prevent Boris from following. Boris makes it clear that he understands what happened on the ship and does not care. Tanya pretends Michael was returning her lost bracelet, and Boris rewards him by appointing him to command Fort Darvaz. This is a garrison in the Caucasus Mountains where the soldiers have been known to murder their officers.
Boris announces his forthcoming marriage and Michael expresses his congratulations by taking to the stage and singing an insulting song [What Is Your Price Madam?]. Tanya says she will not forget the insult.
The next day, Michael and a handful of troops arrive at Fort Darvaz, only to see the current commander rush through the gates, blinded in both eyes. He falls to his death. Michael quells the mutiny by killing anyone who raises a hand against him.
Michael is in urgent need of some stout-hearted men
Later, observers at the fort see Turkomans from across the border massing for an attack. Tanya arrives unexpectedly and lashes Michael across the face in payment for his insult. Michael tells Tanya and Igor, who has driven her, that they must leave immediately as an attack is pending. Potkin rides in, badly wounded, to report 1500 Turkomans massing in the valley. Michael orders a telegram sent to the governor, but the lines are cut and it is unclear whether or not the message got through.
It is now too late for Tanya and Igor to leave. Potkin dies, and the priest suggests that they all prepare themselves for death, as the fort is surrounded.Tanya apologizes to Michael for being the kind of person she is, and tells him that if she had her time over again, she would do things very differently. They embrace and are married by the priest.
Michael tells his men that their only chance is a surprise attack on the enemy during the night. The soldiers are scornful at first, but Michael wins them round [Stout Hearted Men]. They ride out and launch their attack; the fighting is fierce and bloody.
The next morning, Tanya and Igor are waiting for Michael to return. Boris arrives with reinforcements, and assumes that Michael and the garrison have deserted. Tanya disdainfully tells him the truth. One soldier has been found and he reports that there are no other survivors. Tanya tells Boris that she loved Michael, but Boris says it does not matter. He sends a telegram to the Czar, recommending three medals for Michael. Tanya cannot stop herself looking everywhere for Michael [Lover Come Back to Me]. She hears the voices of Michael and his troops [Lover Come Back to Me].
Igor secures a promotion for Michael and tells Boris that Tanya and Michael are married. Tanya has rushed to meet Michael and they ride into the fort together. With sang-froid, Boris toasts them.
