Variety Lights

In Italy, Checco Dal Monte (Peppino De Filippo) manages a troupe of traveling performers with plenty of heart but minimal talent. At a small town engagement, he encounters the starry-eyed, gorgeous Lily Antonelli (Carla Del Poggio), and hires her as a dancer on the show. Vivacious Lily quickly sells out crowds and earns the resentment of Checco's mistress, Melina Amour (Giulietta Masina), but the fledgling performer has far bigger ambitions and soon sets her sights on a higher-profile role.