Peter Herz

In this romance, a banker's daughter suddenly breaks off her engagement on her wedding day. She then meets a man who believes in easy money. He sees her as his meal ticket and the two take off together.

Familial disputes surrounding a traditional business. Grandfather Sonndorfer allies himself with his grandson Otto, in order to bring his arrogant son Max on the right path. Between the fronts is Emmerich Liebling, the intriguing messenger.

Ten years after the end of World War I, Austrian soldier Franz leaves Russia and returns to his village, where he is reunited with Frieda, a woman who believes he is her long-lost son. She seeks him out and greets him with such loving joy, that Franz doesn't have the heart to tell her the truth. He stays with her and when he gets to know his new girlfriend Annie, he begs her to hide his true identity from Annie. Annie, for her part, has seen through this charade already, but chooses to say nothing and to continue to care for Franz.

Since the capable landlady Maria bears a striking resemblance to the ruler of a miniature state, she is tasked with playing the role of princess during her absence. The deceitful and corrupt ministers attempt to seize the opportunity and gain one-sided advantages for themselves. When the son of the real princess falls in love with Maria's daughter and wants to marry her, a national crisis almost erupts.