This drama is taken from Thomas Mann's 1903 semi-autobiographical novel. Tonio (Jean Claude Brialy) is an aspiring writer and the son of a rigid aristocratic father and a music-loving mother. Wandering throughout Germany and Italy to "find himself," Tonio frequently remembers his childhood experiences in a series of flashbacks. The highlight of the film is the expert lensing by cinematographer Wolf Wirth. Erika Mann, the daughter of the late poet and author, collaborated with Ennio Flaiano on the screenplay.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Jean-Claude BrialyTonio Kröger als Erwachsener | Tonio Kröger als Erwachsener |
 Mathieu CarrièreTonio Kröger als Junge | Tonio Kröger als Junge |
 Nadja TillerLisaweta Iwanowna | Lisaweta Iwanowna |
 Werner HinzKonsul Kröger | Konsul Kröger |
| AAnaid IplicjianFrau Kröger | Frau Kröger |
 Rudolf ForsterHerr Seehase | Herr Seehase |
 Walter GillerKaufmann | Kaufmann |
 Theo LingenTanzmeister Knaak | Tanzmeister Knaak |
 Günther LüdersBeamter der Volksbibliothek | Beamter der Volksbibliothek |
 Beppo BremAdalbert Prantl | Adalbert Prantl |
 Gert FröbePolizist Petersen | Polizist Petersen |
 Joachim TeegeBibliothekar | Bibliothekar |
| AAdeline WagnerNot listed | Not listed |