It was based on the play The Dazzling Hour by Anna Bonacci[1] [2] which was later updated for the Billy Wilder film Kiss Me, Stupid.

The late nineteenth century: Count d'Origo, a notorious roué, spots an attractive woman.

However, the local mayor tells the Count that she is Ottavia, the wife of his nephew, Enrico, a struggling young musician.

Charmed by his protectiveness, Geraldine asks him to pretend she is really his wife for one night, so that she can live her dream of having a normal life with a devoted husband.

The maid persuades her to force the Count to agree to put the opera on; she will get her revenge by making her husband both jealous and indebted to her.

Ottavia pretends to offer herself to the Count, but keeps delaying, playing music from the opera on the piano.