Berlin in 1878: Corinna Schmidt, who was brought up in a petit-bourgeois, academic family, is romantically interested in Leopold Treibel, the son of the lordly councillor of commerce Jenny Treibel – although Corinna is also deeply in love with her cousin Marcel. Leopold is also falling for cute Corinna, and Jenny Treibel tries to prevent their friendship by all means, but changes her opinion when their secret engagement becomes public. To avoid a scandal, she urges them to marry quickly. But Corinna soon withdraws from this complicated situation and again turns to her cousin, who is banished from the country for his social democratic beliefs.

In 1896 the Berlin noble doctor Dr. Wilhelm Holtfreter takes over his well-to-do wife Mathilde and takes over the country doctor's office in the Prussian district of Westprignitz from the late Dr. Tochtenhagen. His decision was met with incomprehension everywhere.

Mozglyakov, a young noble playboy, brings great "luck" to the small town of Mordassov: he brings them a prince in the flesh whom he has picked up in the snow. His commentary on this "high-born": the prince is actually just an artificial figure, with horsehair, a glass eye and chalky legs as well as a spring system as a locomotor system. He and other male inhabitants of the small town had no idea that such a fossil would set the local ladies into a fierce battle for prestige, power and money.

Mother Wolffen, a washerwoman, is a woman of principle: A poor man must do what he must to get through life, only he mustn't get caught doing it. All sorts of crooked deals contribute to the improvement of the daily menu and the increase of household funds. When everyone is searching for pensioner Krueger's missing beaverskin coat, Mother Wolffen and her family are calmly enjoying fresh roast venison.

Story of Sergio Rodriguez, commissar of an International Battalion in the Spanish Civil War

Three men accidentally end up stranded on an island in the Baltic Sea: friends Achim and Klaus and railroad worker Erich Spalteholtz. Both friends try to swim ashore to get help. In the process, they have adventures with the police as well as with the enchanting girls Anne and Brigitte! However, before Erich Spalteholtz is rescued from the island, he helps himself alone - thinking that Achim and Klaus have drowned...