Como protesta contra la humanidad, el napolitano anciano Nicola (Eduardo De Filippo), artificiero con 50 años de carrera a sus espaldas, decide dejar de hablar. Para comunicarse su único medio de expresión son los petardos, que al estallar en distintas secuencias quieren decir una cosa u otra. Su hijo Alberto (Marcello Mastroianni), un excéntrico escultor con un complejo mundo interior, es el único intérprete de la curiosa forma de expresión de su padre. Todo funciona en el mundo de Alberto y de su padre, hasta que ambos conocen a Tania (Raquel Welch), una bellísima mujer que trastocará la percepción de Alberto
The retired general Antonio Cavalli is a nuisance to his family: to his wife Francesca who still works, to his son and to his daughter-in-law. Then he finds a job in a building firm. Only by chance Cavalli finds out that his salary is paid by his wife to keep him busy. But the general is well known as a very reliable man, and Sandrelli, the firm's owner, uses him and his name to win a valuable contract. When Sandrelli is arrested, the general finds the money to honour his debt but he is robbed while he is going to the bank...
Una mujer, cansada de las infidelidades del marido, finge traicionarle con su dentista, pero la ley italiana sólo permite condenar a la esposa en caso de adulterio...
Carlo, a young doctor, occasionally meets Anna, the daughter of professor Valli. Carlo falls in love with Anna, who returns his feelings; but her father longs a brilliant marriage for her.
