Acting
Country Dr. Robert Koch is desperate: a tuberculosis epidemic is decimating the children in his district and no one is able to do anything about it. Every fourth child is already sick and the parents must helplessly watch as their young ones die. Now Koch is undertaking to find the cause of the tuberculosis --- something he has already been working on for years --- which has been causing this plague of illness. His work is made more difficult by envy; for example, that of his teacher, who was wounded defending his honor. But his greatest obstacle is the famous Berliner scientist and Reichstag deputy, Privy Councilor Rudolf Virchow: He is extraordinarily skeptical of Koch's theory, that the cause for tuberculosis is a bacteria.
The opera singer Maddalena had been cast out by her family after they learned she was to bear the child of a banker, von Keller, who had seduced and abandoned her. Her return to her native city has her father warn her to remain away, because she is a threat to her family, and her sister Marie's wedding. However, von Keller threatens the reputation of her family with an underhanded banking scheme. He commits suicide, and Maddalena is reconciled with her family.
Peter Korff isn't a famous actor yet, but he is young, handsome, adventurous – and once again hopelessly in love. The object of his affection is named Erika and works as a model at the fashion salon "Yvette." Although the pretty young woman claims to be just as in love with Peter as he is with her, she's always up for a little fling behind his back.
In an imaginary Scandinavian country, an ambitious radical buys an indebted estate in order to become a member of parliament as a local resident, which he ultimately succeeds in doing. Salvation in the party turmoil comes in the form of a military dictatorship under the determined Governor General Werkonen. The new member of parliament arranges for an assassination attempt on the general. However, the general is only slightly injured in the attack. The hired assassin now feels betrayed by his client and takes revenge by murdering him...
Wolf Noltenius is a real globetrotter. Early on, this talented young man travelled far and wide, where he earned fame as a construction planner. He moved to Brazil; but one day, homesickness got the best of him. He spontaneously travelled back to his hometown to visit his brother Werner and his family. Wolf and Werner, who both went into the same profession, couldn't be any more different: the one is worldly and an experienced man-about-town; the other a small bourgeois.
After her brother is sent to Siberia, Sonja heads to Moscow to participate in a revolution.
After winning the lottery young draftsman Erich decides to quit his job and enjoy his riches on a big scale, thus alienating his bride, his grandmother and his friends. Soon con men try to swindle him out of his money.
In a transport museum, the items on display begin to tell their stories. Most interesting is the history of the Pullman car. In the beginning, it served as transport for a princely family; then became the headquarters car for the military high command; and then, most adventurous of all, it ended up with a circus. Converted to a bar, it finally had its day and was supposed to serve as a placard carrier. Luckily, the museum saved it from this sad fate.
Best friends David and Philip have to end their love affair with their mistress Aimée which they - not knowing of each other - share, because they are going to marry their sweethearts Gaby and Viola. Of course Aimée will not accept her defeat. She interferes the engagement of Gaby and David, which lead to some turbulence and change of horses before they all end up in their honeymoon.
Celebrated conservatory graduates Anna and Joachim marry, but since Joachim doesn't seem able to compose anything of value he grows so jealous of pianist Anna's successful cooperation with conductor Westberg that he leaves her.
The marriage of the celebrated operetta diva Vilma and the chamber singer Peter has come to an end. Peter, however, is intent on winning back his now ex-wife. So he’s come up with the idea of a guest performance in Venice, where the two will both appear. Vilma, however, has already found a new man – Niki. He’s a salesman and she wants to marry him. With the help of Annemarie, a friend, who has won a trip to Venice, Peter succeeds in diverting Niki, for he falls in love with Annemarie. Now the way is free for Peter to win back the ex-wife, who couldn’t care if he lived in a hole six feet underground.
Curt serenades his wife Charlott from the garden without her recognizing him. When she later doesn't refer to the incident he assumes that she is falling for the 'unknown' suitor and deliberately puts a notorious womanizer on her trail.
Berlin, the end of the 19th Century: The pretty sisters Gabriele and Ulrike Wilkens have both completed their ballet training with honors. But only Gabriele is really dedicated to the art; Ulrike, on the other hand, is more the domestic type. She dreams of having a husband and children. One day, both of them get to know the aspiring composer Andreas Holk. Holk falls madly in love with Gabriele without suspecting, that Ulrike is in love with him! He arranges a prestigious engagement for the sisters at the Berlin Opera, which only Gabriele accepts. Ulrike prefers her modest life. When Count Alversheim courts Gabriele with unbridled energy, a disappointed Holk turns to Ulrike. When Gabriele finally comes to her senses, it is too late: she’s lost Holk to her sister.
During the Prohibition the US government has been just as successful at stopping drinking as they have been in the War on Drugs. Customs Officer Arne Kolk is determined to stop the alcohol smugglers at any price.
A villager is tempted by a sophisticated city woman and almost kills his wife in a boating accident.
The Minerva Mines Company is interested in transporting two particularly valuable diamonds from Cape Town to Amsterdam. To confuse potential thieves, two detectives are sent on two different ships with steel suitcases and they have no clue whether they’re carrying pebbles or diamonds. Nevertheless, a collection of questionable characters come on board both ships. The hunt for the diamonds begins; the suitcases are stolen; everyone is suspect.
A typical woman's fate at the turn of the century, from the first love mistake to the arranged marriage and further disappointments.
Young Beatrice has trained as a dancer against her father's wishes. At the circus, she meets the famous tamer Ruda and falls in love with him. But the next day, Ruda disappears with the circus. Beatrice gets a new engagement with another circus and makes a career as a dancer among live tigers.
1865. Katharina goes to a ball in Moscow. There she meets again Tchaikowsky, her first and only love. The young, who is now married to wealthy Michael Iwanowitsch Murakin, a man she does not love, has not forgotten Piotr Illich, the (not yet) famous composer. Both are still in love with each other but Piotr is engaged to Nastassia, a dancer, while for her part Katharina cannot leave her husband. Tchaikowky's first love then decides to sacrifice her happiness to the success of the composer, sponsoring him in secret. Something Piotr will learn only years after. When Katharina finds herself free at last it is too late: Tchaikowsky is dying of cholera and she only has time to close his eyes.
The French ballet girl Janine, a gifted tap-dancer, dreams of a musical career in Paris. But first she wants to take revenge on Count René who stood up her best friend Charlotte. Janine wants him to fall in love with her and disappoint him afterwards. At a masked ball at which Janine pretends to be a Marquise they have their first meeting. Janine is very disappointed in the "good gentleman", but she does not suspect that this gentleman also makes a pretence. The man whom she holds to be count René is Pierre, a composer and pianist.
