They Met in Bombay

Plot

Gerald Meldrick (Clark Gable) and Anya von Duren (Rosalind Russell) are a pair of rival jewel thieves at large in India. Both parties are after the same prize, a priceless diamond owned by the Duchess of Beltravers (Jessie Ralph). To inveigle their way into the Duchess' confidence, Gerald poses as a Lloyd's of London detective, while Anya pretends to be an aristocrat. After working at cross purposes, they decide to team up, keeping one step ahead of a diligent police inspector (Matthew Boulton) and mercenary freighter captain Chang (Peter Lorre).

Gerald's plans are upset when the Japanese invade Kwang-tung Province. Gerald is given the job to evacuate Chaing Ling province. On the way to the province Gerald has plans to duck out and head off in a car with Anya, he informs his second in command that he will be leaving on a private mission and will put the idealistic young soldier in charge, Gerald believes the evacuation will go smoothly with little problems. At Chaing Ling, Gerald meets the evacuees, Europeans and Chinese, when the evacuation is set, Gerald meets up with Anya at the Car she has acquired, as they prepare to leave the Japanese arrive. Sensing trouble, Gerald leaves the car and addresses the Japanese commander. the Japanese commander tells him he can evacuate the Europeans, but not the Chinese, the Chinese are considered spies and must be punished. Gerald will not let the Chinese be harmed and tells the Japanese commander that he is leaving-with the Chinese. Gerald calls up the Grenadiers and they get between the Japanese and the Chinese evacuees, The Japanese back down and the convoy leaves, with Anya in one of the Trucks. On the road, The Japanese cutoff their path, and begin firing on the Grenaiders, killing many, the Grenadiers fight back, the Japanese have machine guns mounted on the high ground overlooking the road. Gerald shows true bravery by taking a handful of grenades and racing to outflank the Japanese on higher ground. Dodging gunfire he mounts the heights while the evacuees take cover. Gerald lobs grenades down on the Japanese machine gun nests. Blowing up two of them and then the third as he takes a bullet and collapses. The Grenadiers race to help him, and he is brought down in a stretcher. Some time later we see him in the Hospital fully recovered and ready to head off with Anya still trying to cash in on the Jewel. As he leaves to get his things we see Anya admiring his uniform.

Gerald is summoned in Uniform before the battalion, where he is awarded the Victoria cross for courage by General Allen in a filmed ceremony . Gerald is told his exploits at Chang-Lin have become part of British legend, An inspiration for the soldiers of the Empire for all time to come, Gerald is truly moved by this, but you can see he is also conflicted by all his lies and his criminal past. The whole Battalion gives him three cheers. As Gerald is walking out he is nabbed by the police Inspector who has been doggedly on his trail. Gerald just smiles ironically at the turn of events, he is not a violent man and good natured, the inspector is all business and lives by the rule of law, the inspector takes Gerald into General Allen's Office where Anya is waiting. General Allen in getting ready to give Gerald the Victoria cross has looked into the details of his life and discovered the true facts, that Gerald is not a captain in the Army but a clever Jewel thief who has lied about his credentials. It makes no difference to General Allen what Gerald's past was, he knows a hero when he see's one, and he lets Gerald know that. It turns out Anya who has changed her viewpoint on life is the one who filled General Allen in on Gerald's true past and summoned the inspector so Gerald in light of being a hero can come clean, take his punishment and start life fresh, the Inspector of man of no Heart or sympathy is unmoved or impressed by any of this, and wants to immediately put handcuffs on Gerald, General Allen forbids this while Gerald is on the army base. While walking out to the Inspectors police car, Gerald comes up with a plan. He calls over some soldiers and has the Inspector arrested. the Inspector protests but the soldiers follow Gerlad's orders. Gerald and Anya get in a military vehicle and leave the army Base.

The Inspector after some time is freed by General Allen, and is phoning the police services from the Generals office while the General looks on amused, obviously on Gerald's side on this matter. The inspector informs his office that he is beginning the chase for Gerald anew, and wants all roads blocked, The Inspector says he is going to report the matter to the newspapers , not caring that Gerald is now considered a war hero, he will do it, even if it costs him his job. As he is leaving the generals office Gerald and Anya are walking in. The Inspector is confounded, Gerald tells the Inspector that he could have run out on him, but he couldn't run out on Anya. they inform the inspector that they are about to be married and hand the stolen Gem to the inspector. the General, very happy, but not entirely surprised by this turn of event shakes Gerald's hand, and congratulates him. Gerald hands the General his Victoria cross medal, and tells the general to keep it waiting for him when he comes back-to enlist. the General is very happy to do so, knowing the courts will go easy on the war hero, and he will soon be back in uniform fighting the good fight against the Japanese invaders. looking at the Victoria cross in his hand, the highest medal of Valor, General Allen says:" I would give up the Star of Asia for this any day." Gerald hugs Anya and says" yeah, that's what we think too."

Cast

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $1,554,000 in the US and Canada and $961,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $350,000.