On the plains of Hungary, Franz, a Hussard lieutenant, broods about his future; Born into an aristocratic family, his father drank away the family fortune and marriage seems an unlikely prospect. Impoverished Franz's love for effervescent and upright country girl Marika coincides with the tragic tale of lovelorn violinist Josef, all but ignored by royal beauty Camilla.

Gypsy girl Zidra falls in love with the lieutenant she is supposed to spy on.

A Spanish nobleman raises his only daughter as a boy, similarly to Greta Garbo in Queen Christina (1933). In adulthood, Juana's upbringing causes complications in her love life. Possibly an early example of genderqueer representation.

George Manolescu (Ivan Mosjoukine) plays a confidence man who works his way from Paris to New York. Along the way, during a train ride to Monte Carlo, he meets the voluptuous Cleo (Brigitte Helm). They have a whirlwind romance that ends suddenly after she flees from him.

Hanna is a lush and her artist friend abandons her only to reacquaint himself with when she is down and out. His motive is to paint her as a washed up women. When she realizes his intentions she ruins his painting and him.