The biographical story of Puccini spans his creative life from early student days to the height of success, including his early flop Madama Butterfly and his incomplete Turandot. Along the way he encounters three women who change his life, including an attractive, beautiful singer whom he drops for a small town girl, and a servant girl who commits suicide over him.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Gabriele FerzettiGiacomo Puccini | Giacomo Puccini |
 Märta TorénElvira Puccini | Elvira Puccini |
 Nadia GrayCristina Vernini | Cristina Vernini |
 Paolo StoppaGiocondo | Giocondo |
 Myriam BruDelia | Delia |
 Sergio TofanoGiulio Ricordi | Giulio Ricordi |
 Mimo BilliFanelli | Fanelli |
 Jacques FameryAntonio Puccini | Antonio Puccini |
 Gino Sinimberghitenore | tenore |
 Nelly Corradisoprano | soprano |
 Silvio BagoliniGianni | Gianni |
 Carlo DuseArrigo Boito | Arrigo Boito |
 Piero PalerminiFerdinando Fontana | Ferdinando Fontana |
 René ClermontLuigi Illica | Luigi Illica |
| OOscar AndrianiGiuseppe Giacosa | Giuseppe Giacosa |
| EEnrico UrbiniNot listed | Not listed |
 Alessandro Fersenpadre di Delia | padre di Delia |
 Mario FelicianiNot listed | Not listed |
| VVittorina BenvenutiNot listed | Not listed |
| RRenato ChiantoniNot listed | Not listed |
 Attilio DottesioNot listed | Not listed |
 Evar MaranNot listed | Not listed |
| GGlauco CortiniNot listed | Not listed |
| AAntimo ReynerNot listed | Not listed |
| GGiulio NeriNot listed | Not listed |