Comedia dividida en tres episodios independientes:
En el "Superman italiano", Giobatta (Paolo Villaggio), un emigrante italiano en Holanda, se dedica a la venta ambulante de castañas hasta que se le presenta la oportunidad de prosperar económicamente. Gracias al tamaño de sus atributos varoniles lo contratan para trabajar en espectáculos pornográficos, pero ha de ocultárselo a su mujer.
En "El caballito sueco", Antonio (Nino Manfredi), un cuarentón que se queda solo durante el fin de semana, recibe a regañadientes la visita de la hija de unos viejos amigos, que está de vacaciones con su novio. Mientras que la joven decide pasar la noche en casa de Antonio, su novio ha preferido marcharse.
En "El ascensor", una joven (Stefania Sandrelli), en pleno "Ferragosto", se queda encerrada en el ascensor de un edificio desierto con un maduro monseñor (Alberto Sordi).
In 1900 in Rome, the poor carpenter Francesco, by a twist of fate, is recognized component of a noble family in the process of decay. Francesco knows the cynical and ruthless Prince Torquato Terenzi, disappointed by life and progress, and also falls in love with the beautiful Duchess Elisa. When Prince Terenzi dies, Francesco realizes that he's not enriched for nothing with the inheritance, because the noble family is broke; so he enlistes himself for the war in Libya, but quickly returnes to Italy, disgusted by the atrocities of the fighting. His dream is to be a singer, and so he goes to America with the Duchess Elisa.
After their boss' death, two clerks eagerly await the arrival of the next one, each one of them hoping to become the apple of his eye. They compete in every possible way to impress him, which causes lots of trouble and many misunderstandings.
