Hugo Gau-Hamm

There's a great deal of excitement on a small North Sea island: A millionairess has arrived, accompanied by her elderly secretary. No one knows why the lady is vacationing here of all places. It's particularly strange that Ellinor, as the sophisticated city woman is called, is snooping around everywhere. She's being watched suspiciously by all the islanders. But it's all just a game! In reality, the elderly secretary is a millionaire – his name is Jan Remmers, and he left his home island many years ago to pursue a career overseas. Now he's returned, but he doesn't want to reveal his identity until he's found out whether the community would welcome him warmly even without his millions. Unfortunately, Remmers discovers that no one is expecting him in his old home: His former fiancée, Berta, has married the fisherman Hinnerk, and his son, Peter, is a very independent engineer. Proud of his son, Remmers is secretly supporting a major construction project Peter is working on.

An author, a businessman, a shipowner and a publisher form a business venture, which will supposedly exploit a huge find of lobsters on the island of Santa Cruz. After a report in the newspaper, the business' stocks do well. But the partners quarrel with one another and it doesn't help that there aren't any lobsters on Santa Cruz after all. Nevertheless, a team heads off to the island in a decrepit boat to open up a cannery in vain.

Based on an 1884 novel by Julius Stinde, it is a family chronicle set in late nineteenth century Berlin.

The pianist Angelika Rink is exhausted from her chasing after success and is looking for peace and quiet in her hometown. Here, she sees her childhood friend Dr. Manfred Claudius again, who is running a country clinic with a lot of idealism. They both still love one another, but neither is prepared to give up his/her career for the other.

A continuation of the film "Familie Buchholz": To Wilhelmine Buchholz, the concept of a marriage based on love is somewhat scary, although she hears again and again that this is the "modern" method to a happy marriage. Her daughter Betti seems to agree, as she shows no interest in her middle class companions; she only loves the painter Holle. To once again restore family harmony, Mr. Buchholz sends his wife and daughters to Helgoland. But Wilhelmine has to return early to Berlin to look after things while Betti and Holle continue onward. On Helgoland, they secretly marry.