IMPORTANT: There are a number of spots in the film where the picture is briefly distorted. This is not a manufacturing error. Please take note of this!

WICHTIG: An einigen Stellen des Films ist das Bild kurzzeitig verzerrt. Dies ist kein Herstellungsfehler. Bitte beachten Sie das!

After a long period of study, Jakob Lechner returns to his village as a newly graduated economist. During his absence, his father, Alois Lechner, a member of the state parliament and a farmer, and innkeeper and mayor Huber have decided that their two children should marry. Jakob, however, has no intention of marrying the young Anni Huber. Instead, he finds himself drawn to Liesl, a dairymaid who, along with her little brother Hansl, has been taken in by Lechner. Both work for him as a maid and a shepherd boy, living in an alpine hut. The village priest wants to stage a nativity play to celebrate the restoration of the statue of the Virgin Mary in the church. Although Lechner recommends Anni for the role of the Virgin Mary, the priest decides to give Liesl the part. Uncertain but proud, she accepts the role and now rehearses diligently with the villagers participating in the play. Alois, in turn, forbids Jakob from seeing Liesl. After leaving for a state parliament session, Alois nevertheless goes up to the alpine pasture to help Hansl search for a lost sheep. Alois is so outraged by this disobedience that he throws Jakob out. Jakob then moves to the county seat..