In the figure of Ettore Zambrini, a small industrialist with a dream of opening a factory overlooking the Autostrada del Sole, Montaldo offers us an effective narrative transposition of the 'animal spirits' that governed the economic boom in Italy at the time. He is a character of contradictory humanity: capable of handling business, overdue bills, trade union relations, marital betrayal, but also the passion that binds him to his wife with equal unscrupulousness.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Renato SalvatoriEttore Zambrini | Ettore Zambrini |
 Norma BengellLuciana | Luciana |
| NNino SeguriniMarco | Marco |
 Marina MalfattiNot listed | Not listed |
| DDino FontanesiNot listed | Not listed |
| RRaffaele TriggiaNot listed | Not listed |
| IIginio MarchesiniNot listed | Not listed |
| GGino AgostiniNot listed | Not listed |
| EEnrico RameNot listed | Not listed |
| BBrenno BaratellaNot listed | Not listed |
| AAntonio DomenighiniNot listed | Not listed |
| AAlberto MasiniNot listed | Not listed |
| VVito CipollaNot listed | Not listed |
| CCelso FaveNot listed | Not listed |
| CCarlo AsinariNot listed | Not listed |
| GGino CassaniNot listed | Not listed |
| AAnna Maria CrocioniNot listed | Not listed |
| MMario FioreNot listed | Not listed |
| UUmberto JulliNot listed | Not listed |
| FFlorence NovaNot listed | Not listed |
| GGabriella PellegriniNot listed | Not listed |
| LLoris SerraNot listed | Not listed |
| LLuciano SerraNot listed | Not listed |
| AAntonietta RighiNot listed | Not listed |