In Italy, in 1736, Pergolese is in love with Maria. But Maria's brother, Count Raniero, forbids his sister to marry a modest composer. Pergolese kidnaps the young girl, but they are caught. Maria is locked up in her castle while Pergolese dies in the convent that takes him in.

After murdering her illegitimate baby, Isabella pins the blame on her innocent cousin Consuelo. Despite the strenuous efforts of her attorney-lover DeSylva, Consuelo is found guilty and shipped to a penal colony along with several other female prisoners.

A Russian grand duchess, in order to avoid a marriage imposed on her by her family, pretends to have fallen in love with a movie actor and tells her relatives that she has married him. When they arrive, they are able to meet the grand duchess's supposed husband, as she has forced the actor to play the thankless role. But from the pretense and the often awkward incidents it causes, a lively and genuine affection develops between the two protagonists. And the grotesque episode ends with a real wedding.

Set in the Papal States in the first half of the 19th century, it tells the story of the Roman noblewoman Vanina Vanini and her secret love for the Carbonaro Pietro Mirilli. The latter, given his commitments in the underground struggle, decides to abandon his young lover, who is nevertheless willing to marry him. Left alone, Vanina is unable to escape her despair and tries in every way to reunite with her companion, even going so far as to denounce the Carbonari to the Cardinal of Romagna, naming them all except Pietro and revealing the hiding place where they meet. Pietro, learning of Vanina's betrayal, casts her out. Only then does Vanina realize the gravity of her actions and decides to join the Carbonari, even participating in combat operations, during one of which she is wounded. This brings the two young people closer together forever.

Count Agostino di Montecorvo's nephew and niece pretend they get married for his hundredth birthday since the old man has had this wish for a long time. But when the count wants them to beget a child as well they are forced to present him with a fake one. But then the child's mother wants it back...