The five vitelloni are first seen marching through the streets. The intellectual Leopoldo is an amateur playwright. Alberto lives with his sister, who is involved with a married man. Riccardo is a talented tenor. Moraldo, the youngest of the group, is an amiable dreamer. His sister, Sandra, is romantically involved with outrageous womanizer Fausto, the group’s leader.

Sandra discovers she is pregnant. Fausto, the father to be, immediately tries to skip town. His father catches him and forces him to marry Sandra. While they are away honeymooning, the other vitelloni roam around town, shooting pool and chasing women. On the couple’s return, Fausto’s father-in-law gets him a job at a local shop. He soon returns to his womanizing ways and is fired for making a move of the boss’s wife.

News of his behavior reaches Sandra but Moraldo saves his friend’s reputation by lying. Shortly after, Sandra gives birth. Fausto slips up again and this time Moraldo can’t find an excuse for it. Sandra leaves, taking the baby with her. Fausto eventually finds her and declares himself a changed man. In the closing scene, Moraldo leaves town in search of a better life in the middle of the night. One of the vitelloni finally leaves the nest.