A young Sicilian is swindled twice, but ends up rich; a man poses as a deaf-mute in a convent of curious nuns; a woman must hide her lover when her husband comes home early; a scoundrel fools a priest on his deathbed; three brothers take revenge on their sister's lover; a young girl sleeps on the roof to meet her boyfriend at night; a group of painters wait for inspiration; a crafty priest attempts to seduce his friend's wife; and two friends make a pact to find out what happens after death.

A humble Neapolitan with singing ambitions, being broke, resorts to bag-snatching. He's arrested and while in jail he takes part in a singing contest and wins it with some kickback by a powerful mafia boss. He becomes a famous singer, falls in love with a gold digger and forgets the only love that really counts on this earth, his mother's.

In this satire inspired by Nikolai Gogol’s The Government Inspector (aka The Inspector General) and transported to fascist era Italy, the (supposed) incognito visit of a Roman fascist official to a tiny country town shakes deeply the ruling class and their lack of integrity.

Franco, a young Neopolitan about to leave for military service, promises his fiancee, Maria, to write to her every day. But after two months apart, his comrades meet a general's daughter, and his letters to Maria become increasingly rare.