In 1923 Berlin, following the suicide of his brother, an American acrobat struggles to survive while facing unemployment, depression, alcoholism, and the social decay of Germany during the Weimar Republic.

David Carradine
as Abel Rosenberg

Liv Ullmann
as Manuela Rosenberg

Gert Fröbe
as Inspector Bauer

Heinz Bennent
as Hans Vergerus

Toni Berger
as Monsieur Rosenberg

Christian Berkel
as Student

Paula Braend
as Madame Hemse

Erna Brünell
as Madame Rosenberg

Paul Bürks
as Cabaret Comedian

Gaby Dohm
as Woman with Child