In the early 1930s in Berlin. The cabaret artist Emil Damaschke would like to entertain people with his program - together with Ida, the attraction from Hungary. Because he risks too big a lip, he is kicked out of the "Rosenthaler" cabaret, ending up on the criminal track and briefly in prison. Back outside, he and colleagues lease the "Rosenthaler", whose Jewish owners fled abroad from the Nazis. They set up a cooperative. But a gang of criminals who profess their allegiance to the Nazis and believe they have a free ticket want a share of the proceeds. Emil shuts himself off from Ida's intention to win the workers as a new audience, he makes money with advertising and refuses to accept the criminals. They kidnap Ida, murder her in the forest and ensure that Emil is framed for the murder. Emil ends up in prison and the criminals take over the cabaret - in Nazi uniform.