It is the year 2000 and the World Global Union is in charge, although other countries are allowed to elect their own government leaders, as long as they support the Union. When Austria's newly-elected president, played by Josef Meinrad, makes his inauguration speech he declares Austria independence and issues an edict ending Austria's financial support for the Global Union.
Fritz is in love with artist Glay, who stays at the Grand Hotel. In spite of not having any money he gets to know her, invites her to supper and after dancing a tango even hires the royal suite. How will he get out of this is a mystery even to himself.
Rupp (Jannings) is a former butcher, made rich in the meat packing industry as a result of the reversal of fortunes brought on by WWI. He is crude, uncouth and uneducated. His son, Fred, is the apple of his father's eye and is an auto enthusiast. The widowed Rupp falls in love with a former aristocrat, Helen, now down on her luck and pawning her last heirloom. He proposes marriage and she accepts in order to save her ailing mother who needs a monetary influx to avoid death. Her former boyfriend, Platen, warns Helen against Rupp's intentions - he and Rupp are enemies, Rupp having caused his being fired for protecting a chorus girl against Rupp's unwanted advances. Meanwhile, Graf, a shyster, arranges purchase of a near bankrupt auto manufacturing firm, Phoenix, to Rupp's great advantage with practically no monetary recognition to Graf, who swears revenge. Rupp comes upon his son begging Helen not to marry his father but to return to Platen.
Dr. Wittich is a passionate speleologist who spends more time on his research than on his fiancée Cornelia. As a result, she turns to the rich industrialist Roy, whom she eventually marries. But her heart actually belongs to the explorer and so she is drawn back to him.
A young man practices medicine without a licence.
Taking place over 12 hours on New Years Eve, a concert pianist murders his wife's lover, then frames an innocent man.
The multi-millionaire Eduard Schlüter takes part under the name Schulze in a raffle of his own Schlüter works and wins a stay at the Grand Hotel. Disguised as a poor swallower, he would like to study the reactions of the hotel staff and guests. As an assistant, he takes his reliable servant Johann with him. Once there, he makes friends and also has cause for annoyance when his daughter and the housekeeper arrive.
The innkeeper of the Linden Inn is struggling with her debts and her rival, the butcher Kilian. A boost comes when the young interior designer Helga furnishes the inn with furniture from a nearby castle. In the process, she falls in love with the estate manager, Fred, who is an avowed misogynist...
Unhappy accountant Karl has a crush on Eva who seems to prefer dates with execs. But real trouble ensues when he inherits his uncle's apartment and in its wake a group of shady characters involved in illegal business affairs.
Despite their social differences Luise, called Pünktchen, a girl from rich parentage befriends Anton, a boy who has to earn his own money in order to afford life for his sick mother and himself. Together they undergo different adventures, even preventing a theft in Pünktchens home
This movie takes place during the premiere of Mozart's Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute). Not really depicting his entire life and loves, much of this is fictionalized scatology. Although not without basis in fact, Mozart has attained a somewhat colorful reputation and this is really just more of the same. The music is a joy, but the movie bogs down in titillation. Mozart's last days were lived in poverty and disgrace--stemming chiefly from his embracing of the Freemason stance, which was essentially a heresy in Austria and the rest of Europe at that time. None of this is depicted and even a satyr could not sustain the lifestyle Mozart has been portrayed as having here. Still, this is an interesting movie and worth a listen to.
