Gerardo, an aspiring actor, trying unsuccessfully to cross over from comedy to tragedy, is involved, due to his ability to mimic dialects of Italy, in a scam concocted by Lallo against a rich cloth-merchant.

Vittorio Gassman
as Gerardo Latini

Anna Maria Ferrero
as Annalisa Rauseo

Fosco Giachetti
as General Benito Mesci

Luigi Pavese
as L'industriale

Dorian Gray
as Elena

Mario Carotenuto
as Lallo Cortina

Alberto Bonucci
as Gloria Patri

Nando Bruno
as Restaurant Owner

Linda Sini
as Laura

Peppino De Filippo
as Chinotto