[1] It was made by Bavaria Film at the company's Munich Studios and on location in the city and in Hamburg.

The film's sets were designed by the art directors Franz Bi and Botho Höfer.

While travelling on a train, civil servant Hieronymus Spitz encounters young mother Winnie and her child Niki.

Winnie abandoned Niki because he was illegitimate and she was planning to emigrate to America with her fiancee Paul, who she feared would not accept another man's child.

Due to his engaging personality, Niki has completely transformed the staid civil servant's life.