In the World War II Allied invasion of Sicily, a battle-weary American company is assigned to capture a small village. Led by Captain Cash, a "by-the-book" West Point graduate, the company finds that its advance is interrupting a soccer game. The Americans have long been expected, however, and Captain Oppo, the Italian officer responsible for the village, explains that he is perfectly willing to surrender--with honor. In other words, the soccer game must be allowed to finish and the annual wine festival must be held before the town will yield to the occupying forces. Captain Cash has some misgivings about the unorthodox arrangement, but his second in command, Lieutenant Christian, persuades him to acquiesce. Italians and Americans join for an all-day, all-night orgy of drunken revelry and lovemaking. Reconnaissance planes from both U. S. and German headquarters mistake the frolicking in the streets for resistance fighting, and the Nazis decide to aid their Italian allies. When they arrive, however, they find the American flag unfurled above the village and American soldiers, in all manner of dress including German uniforms, holding the town. U. S. forces also arrive to rescue what they believe to be a battalion of battle-fatigued GI's; but by popping in and out of the catacombs under the town, Cash's company captures the whole of the German unit. A victory celebration is in order.