The title refers to a character named Pompeo Quarantini; an attorney tries to prevent marriage between an heiress and a musician, but without success.

Escaping a Nazi prison train in war-torn Italy, an American and a British soldier set out for the Swiss border and find themselves leading a multi-national party of refugees for the Italian underground.

In the huge steel factories in Terni (Umbria, Italy), two friends: Mario and Pietro, fight for the love of the same girl, Gina. Pietro dies because of a work accident at the factory. The other workers think Mario is responsible for the death of his friend. Mario, who is innocent, is forced to quit, but his love for Gina and his dedication to his job help him out of his crisis.

Miss Dorothy is a strange type of tutor, whom the old Duchess Sangro chose to educate Mara, her distant relative, a very rich orphan, with a capricious and rebellious character.