The old hidalgo Don Alonso Quijano, maddened by the excessive reading of books on chivalry and determined to become a famous and heroic knight-errant, leaves his village and sets out on the road in search of adventure, accompanied by his faithful friend Sancho Panza.

On the day that they receive their university diplomas, three young men make a bet: they will marry a rich woman and meet again one year later.

A young bullfighter full of illusions triumphs in Mexico and decides to get married there and forget about his old Spanish girlfriend, who by then has just given birth to his son.

Fancy gentleman uses his charms to exploit a bunch of women.

Ex-con rebuilds his life after being discharged from prison.

"Brilliant" young painter watches his wife lapse into schizophrenia.

This film traces the unbelievable true story of the Calderón family, who built grand movie palaces in Mexico and the U.S., employing thousands to produce incomparable, hugely successful, and often reprehensible populist-genre films that were utterly and uniquely Mexican.

The movie starts with Braulio Peláez (Pedro Infante), a schoolteacher, having just fallen off his horse, representing the situation he and his family are in. The next scenes introduce the viewer to his family and their poor financial and social situation. As Braulio stumbles around looking for his glasses, he causes a famous film star, Alfonso de Madrazo (Rafael Alcaide) to crash his car. Braulio offers him to eat at his house as an apology. Braulio's sister and mother, big film fans, immediately recognise Alfonso and attempt to get him to bring the girl, Luisa Peláez (Irma Dolores) to Mexico City to become a film star. Alfonso agrees and tells them to come to the capital.