1966
At a village railway station in occupied Czechoslovakia, a bumbling dispatcher’s apprentice longs to liberate himself from his virginity. Oblivious to the war and the resistance that surrounds him, this young man embarks on a journey of sexual awakening and self-discovery, encountering a universe of frustration, eroticism, and adventure within his sleepy backwater depot.
1916
Colorado lawyer Bill Brent, falsely accused and imprisoned for a murder committed by his partner, escapes to Canada with his cellmate where they become wealthy in the trapping business. When out of a trapping expedition the pair rescue Nita, the only survivor of a boating accident. In time Bill and she fall in love and marry then Bill makes the unwise decision to try to return to see his elderly mother.
1918
Madame Gerve is a famous opera singer at the prime donna at the Opera Comique in Paris. When the French Prime Minister proposes marriage, however, she refuses and then sings at a benefit for war orphans. It's there that she encounters two men from her past--Karl Wertz, the German ambassador to France whom she knew during the war when he was a German officer and his unit occupied her village, and Phillippe Sardonia, a Frenchman who is her former lover. Both men try to rekindle their past relationships with her, but she has a secret that she doesn't want either man to know about. A lost film.
1928
Capturing a beautiful horse and slave girl, Thurya young Arab Jaafor’s happiness is short lived when the girl is sold to a cruel sheik. Sneaking into the encampment he attempts escape with her on horseback but is captured. The attack of an enemy tribe saves him, the sheik is slain, and the young Jaafor’s tribe celebrates his nuptials with Thurya.
Sir Philip Randall, a prominent judge, is fed up with the antics of James, his scapegrace son, and tosses him out of the house. The conflict between father and son leaves Mrs. Randall heartbroken, and when she dies, she makes her husband swear to help James if he ever needs it. When Joe Merrion, a bookmaker, is found dead, circumstantial evidence points to Squire William Rufford. Although Randall can't believe he committed the crime, he is forced to convict him and sentence him to prison. But later, when James, whose wild ways have left him penniless, comes to his father for help, Randall discovers that he was the killer.
Reporter Jane Randall, who works for the Herald and Phil Norton of the Times, are competing to get the story on the Thomas Syndicate regarding when funds will be released to prevent a panic. Both head to the estate of Marsden Thomas who oversees the Syndicate. Through coercion Norton worms the info from Marsden’s son but attempts to hold up the report to do some insider trading. However, Jane with the help of her fiancé Jimmy telegraphs the Herald, gets the scoop and thwarts Nelson.
Ralph Cullom is in love with Lucy Bronson and she loves him, but her mother wants him to marry a title. Earl Twombley arrives in America on a business mission. He brings letters of introduction to Mrs. Belknap, Lucy's aunt. Lucy's mother sees an opportunity to arrange a union between Lucy and the Earl.
1919
Having followed the road of romance through many countries, Lord Quex finally falls in love with Muriel Eden. After resisting Lord Quex because of his reputation, Muriel finally capitulates to his charms and agrees to marry him. In her heart, however, Muriel still treasures an affection for Caption Bastling, a fortune hunting womanizer, and when Muriel is told of Lord Quex's continuing contact with the Duchess of Dowager, a situation brought about through the scheming of the Duchess, Muriel turns to Bastling and agrees to meet him at her friend Sophie Fullgarney's manicurist shop.
