In the second half of the 1950s, prosperity slowly began to take hold in the Netherlands, but not for Bob Somers, his father, and four sisters. As the son of a village coal merchant, Bob was destined to take over his father's business. When Bob visits a revue in the city, sparks fly. Not only between him and the glitz and glamour of the revue, but also between Bob and Jeanne, the daughter of the owner of a shop selling modern household appliances. Bob moves to the city and manages to get a job as a stagehand, allowing him to witness the revue performance every day.