The film is set during the Italian Renaissance in the 14th century. Petruccio lives in Ferrara with his wife, Fiametta. Initially, he works as a scribe at the city court. Under the pseudonym Giovanni Boccaccio, he writes amorous tales that divide opinion within the city. While the women read the texts with delight, the men are outraged by their moral licentiousness.

Willy Fritsch
as Petruccio, Stadtschreiber

Heli Finkenzeller
as Fiametta, Petruccios Frau

Albrecht Schoenhals
as Cesare d’ Este, Herzog von Ferrara

Gina Falckenberg
as Francesca, seine Frau

Paul Kemp
as Verleger Calandrino

Fita Benkhoff
as Bianca, seine Frau

Albert Florath
as Bartolomeo, Hauptmann

Ernst Waldow
as Ricco, Vertrauter des Herzogs

Vilma Bekendorf
as Gesellschafterin der Herzogin

Tina Eilers
as Pia, seine Frau