In May 1941, a young instructor of the Komsomol Regional Committee of Belovezhskaya Pushcha Andrei Dyomushkin was invited to the graduation party of the Moscow Theatre School to create a professional theatre in the city. The war has crossed out all plans. Now he, along with the course of graduates, will have to go through the war and be the commander of the front acting fraternity in the current army "A Special Unit"...
A musical screen comedy based on the French play La Cagnotte (The Piggy Bank in English) by Eugène Marin Labiche. A group of provincial Bourgeois decide to spend savings they accumulated for a year of playing cards together on a memorable deed. After humorous strategizing and alliance forming, Leonida, the unmarried sister and Blanche, the engaged daughter, of Monsieur Champbourcy, entice the group to spend the money on what they imagine a luxurious journey to a capital city. A very memorable event indeed it was.
Negina, a popular but poor actress, receives lessons from her fiancé Meluzov. Prince Dulebov, intending to take advantage of the girl's dire circumstances, suggests sponsorship, gets refused and becomes spiteful. Despite the latter's intrigues, Negina's benefice performance is triumphant and she receives a large sum of money, part of which Dulebov himself has to provide to keep his face. Still, the entrepreneur refuses to prolong her contract. One after another ecstatic admires come to her expressing their affection, among them Narokov, Naluzov and Velikatov. She leaves honest but dull Meluzov and goes away with rich Velikatov, motivated not by greed but by the desire to work on stage, the only thing she is really in love with.
The movie takes place during Russia's civil war between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites (Mensheviks). Andrejka and Yarinka are a young betrothed couple in the village of Malinovka, caught between the battle lines. Gritsian is the leader of a Menshevik band who are planning to attack the village. Yarinka appeals to the local Bolshevik commander for his faction's help. The Bolsheviks quickly come up with a plan to save the village... but the plan requires Yarinka to enter into a pretend marriage with Gritsian.
Russian Empire, the middle of the XIX century. Aged, beggar dramatic actor Lev Gurych Sinichkin, in search of work, wanders through the cities with his young daughter Liza. They dream that Lisa someday will succeed on stage and become a famous actress.