Kurier des Zaren (The Czar's Courier) was the original title for the German adaptation of Jules Verne's Michael Strogoff. Anton Wohlbrueck stars as the title character, personal courier to the Czar in the year 1870. Bearing papers vital to the Russian military campaign against the Tartars, Michael Strogoff (Wohlbrueck) is briefly distracted by a beautiful female spy (Hilde Hildegast), and later captured by a Tartar chieftain who allows Strogoff one final night of revelry before the poor man's eyes are gouged out. With the help of heroine Nadja (Marie Andergast), Strogoff completes his mission, saving Mother Russia from the Tartar hordes. A French-language version of Kurier des Zaren, also starring Anton Wohlbrueck, was filmed simultaneously. Footage from both versions was later incorporated in the English-language version, The Soldier and the Lady (aka The Adventures of Michael Strogoff), which once again starred Anton Wohlbrueck (now billed as Anton Walbrook), together with Margot Grahame, Fay Bainter and Akim Tamiroff. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi