The 1943 German film "Munchausen", also known as "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" or "Münchhausen" is a fantasy film about the German national hero Baron Munchausen. The film's original German title is "Münchhausen." Baron Munchausen tells two visitors the story of his life and his adventures and romances with women in Russia, Turkey, Venice, and places further away. In St. Petersburg, Russia, there are scenes noblemen playing card games for money in gold coins.

An elegant 18th century dress party is being held by Baron Munchausen at the Munchausen family palace.

A guest flips an electric light switch which reveals that the setting is actually in modern Germany. A few days later the baron hosts two of the party guests at his house.

The baron's full name is Baron Hieronymus von Munchausen but only a few friends call him by his first name. The two guests are Sophie von Riedesel and Baron von Hartenfeld who are engaged to be married.

Both guests are interested in the original Baron Munchausen and the current baron tells the story of his illustrious relative. The film then moves to the period around 1780 where Baron Munchausen returns home from a trip to France.

The baron is accompanied by his assistant Christian Kuchenreutter who is also an inventor. Christian has invented a gun which can fire a bullet 100 miles. Baron Munchausen informs his father that he has "broken the bank" in roulette and faro and still has 100 Louis d'or (French gold coins). He empties a small bag onto a table.

The coins are too small to see. The baron is summoned by Prince Anton Ulrich of Brunswick to accompany him to St. Petersburg in Russia where both will work for the queen Catherine the Great (Czarina Catherine II). The infamous wizard Count Cagliostro, whom the baron has known for some time, visits the baron while he is still in Germany. The count suggests that by marriage one could be king of Poland but, as the count's picture is on "wanted" posters all over Europe, the usual fate of kings in having their pictures stamped on coins rules him out. The count suggests that Baron Munchausen would look better on a coin but the baron declines. The baron and his assistant leave for St. Petersburg.

The baron and Catherine begin an affair which lasts several months. Baron Munchausen likes to play cards for money and makes an enemy by winning.

Gold coins referred to as "ducats" line the table.

Stacks of gold coins indicate who is ahead. The baron finds that Count Cagliostro is now in St. Petersburg and visits him to warn him that he is about to be arrested.

The count's office includes various paraphernalia used by occultists including chemistry equipment and an astrolabe used for astrological work. In gratitude for the warning, the count gives the baron a "magic ring."

The count states that the ring will make the wearer invisible for an hour but can be used only once. Count Cagliostro asks the baron what his greatest wish is and the baron replies: "I would wish to remain as youthful as I am today until I myself decide to grow old." The count then tells the baron that his wish has been granted and flees the arriving police. After several months Catherine has tired of the baron and sends him to the military front of the Russia-Ottoman Empire (Turkey) war.

A mythical Turkish city appears in the distance.

The baron sits on a loaded cannon but doesn't know that an enemy has lit the fuse. The cannon fires it's ball with unexpected results.

Baron Munchausen lands in the Turkish city and is captured and taken to Istanbul where his charm soon has him becoming a friend of the sultan.

Sultan Abdul Hamid I (who reigned 1774 to 1789) offers the baron a job but the baron declines as the job requires one to "become a Turk" (convert to Islam) and not drink wine. The Turks have captured the baron's friend Christian and separately the Italian Princess Isabella d'Este. Baron Munchausen gambles with the sultan and wins freedom for himself, his assistant, and the princess. When the sultan swaps another woman for the princess, the baron sends his assistant to charter a ship while he uses his invisiblity ring to rescue the real princess and carry her to the ship.

Baron Munchausen asks Princess Isabella where she wishes to go and she replies "Venice."

The Venice scenes were actually filmed in Venice. The city Carnival is going on and the baron and princess spend their time together.

Baron Munchausen meets the famous but somewhat older lover Casanova.

The princess' brother Prince Francesco sends men to kidnap his sister and lodge her in a convent. The convent is too heavily guarded for the baron to rescue her but he is allowed to visit her.

They part and the princess proclaims that she will always love him. Baron Munchausen humiliates Prince Francesco in a duel and in revenge the prince sends some men after him. The baron and his assistant Christian take over a hot air balloon brought by a Frenchman to Venice as an exhibition and launch it into the sky.

The balloon floats into the sky and beyond.

The balloon flies further than the baron expects.

Their balloon lands on the Moon and the baron and Christian look around. A Moon Man arrives carrying the head of a Moon Maid, places the head on a plant and leaves.

The baron has a conversation with the Moon Maid, who has left her lovely body locked up to prevent mischief. The two men make a horrible discovery. The aging process is speeded up on the Moon and Christian ages and dies while the baron is protected by Cagliostro's magic.

The baron then finishes his story by relating that the original Baron Munchausen was seen in various places up to 1867. After some questions from the guests, the baron then states what the guests have suspected.

Baron Munchausen, now with his identity revealed, tells his wife that he plans to renounce eternal youth as an act of love and join her in aging together.

Hans Albers as Baron Munchausen
Käthe Haack as Baroness Munchausen
Hans Brausewetter as Baron von Hartenfeld
Marina von Ditmar as Sophie von Riedesel
Hermann Speelmans as Christian Kuchenreutter
Ferdinand Marian as Count Cagliostro
Brigitte Horney as Tsarin Catherine II
Ilse Werner as Isabella d'Este
Marianne Simson as The Moon Maid
Director: Josef von Báky
Writers: Erich Kästner, Gottfried August Bürger, Rudolf Erich Raspe