A man's life breaks down in pursuit of material success.

A young actress, dismissed as untalented by a famous and admired mime, takes revenge for the insult by playing so many roles for him in his house - from maid to abused wife and tender mother to vamp - that in the end he discovers not only her talent but also his love for her.

After years of silence, Thomas reunites with his great love, Petra, and is devastated: She has married his best friend, Christoph. Thomas remains friendly but secretly schemes to denigrate Christoph as a criminal and thus reclaim the woman he loves.

Country doctor Wilhelm Löhnefink has had enough of being a bachelor and goes looking for a wife.

The adaptation of the eponymous play by Carl Zuckmayer tells the story of renegade general Harras of the German Luftwaffe, who during WWII openly criticizes the Nazi regime. As a consequence, he is put under surveillance, and even imprisoned for a brief period of time. Still remaining outspoken, Harras realizes the horrific dimensions of this hopeless and injust war waged by Germany.