Gennaro runs a small boarding house in Ischia, the beautiful island in the gulf of Naples. Each member of his family is involved: his wife cooks, his daughter has a small boutique and his married son courts the old and rich patrons under his wife's enraged eyes.
A cook from Sardinia who had emigrated to Milan goes back to his native island thinking he has inherited some money with his uncles death. He finds out he has to avenge his death instead.
A ruthless businessman wants to bring a penniless nobleman financially on his knees because he wants to marry the man's daughter. It is the family chauffeur who puts things right.
Lago Maggiore, 1949: a failed bank manager, to revive his economic situation, tries to combine a marriage of interest for his daughter. Failing to do so, he then tries a robbery in his own bank.
Gianni Alberti is a journalist who is sent to Palestine. He decides to fake a fatal accident so he can then return home as a hero. But things don't turn out as planned, Gianni end up coming back to Italy, but only as a ghost.
While filming in the Roman countryside, some of the workers damage the garden of Caterina. Going to ask for compensation, she meets the director Marcello, who propose her to star working in movies.
Teo, a young theatre stand in, is offered a faustian pact by the devil: if he pushes a button a Chinese mandarin will die and leave his money to him. Teo seems to be tempted by the offer...
