For years, renowned industrialist Matthias Clausen (Hans Albers) was an unlimited master in his factory and home. But when his wife died, he felt lonely, tired and lost. His ill-ambitious son-in-law Klamroth (Martin Held) could hardly wait to get his hands on everything. He was assisted in doing so by his servile wife, Clausen's daughter Otilia (Hannelore Schroth). Son of Voltgang (Erich Schellow), married to poor Adeligen. He is unreasonable, for the old-fashioned unmarried daughter Betina (Maria Becker), tortured her father with excessive care for him and worried to his love for his dead mother. Only his youngest son, Egbert (Claus Biederstaedt), is a modern but uninformed young man...