Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army.

Vittorio Gassman
as Giovanni Busacca

Alberto Sordi
as Oreste Jacovacci

Silvana Mangano
as Costantina

Folco Lulli
as Bordin

Bernard Blier
as Capitano Castelli

Romolo Valli
as Tenente Gallina

Vittorio Sanipoli
as Maggiore Venturi

Nicola Arigliano
as Giardino

Mario Valdemarin
as Sottotenente Lorenzi

Tiberio Mitri
as Mandich