In the made-up country of Alanien, King Alexander I has been overthrown while abroad. Now, he's in Vienna with his daughter, the city of his fondest memories since studying there as a boy. It doesn't take long for the charm of Vienna to work its magic on the former king: he quickly comes to terms with the new situation and is able to enjoy the Austrian capital sans all the ceremony and trappings which would otherwise accompany him on a state visit. The princess is content with preparing herself for a career as a pianist concert, while the former king takes a job as a chauffeur in the embassy of the country he once ruled. The revolutionaries are shocked; and his days in Vienna are numbered.

Jozi's aunt runs an inn near the border and has a little side-job: she smuggles. Poor, naive Jozi doesn't know anything about it. Jozi falls in love with the young border patrol officer Hans and her feelings are amply returned. But Hans' supervisor suspects Jozi of smuggling and tries again and again to lead her into illegal temptation. Finally, Hans sees Jozi in a dance bar together with smugglers and believes, too, that she's one of their accomplices.

A shoemaker has delusions of grandeur when he inherits from a baron whose life he saved.He prevents his daughter from seeing a mere carpenter, abandons humble old friends, and shows poor judgment by falling for a couple of poseurs.