Hyppolit, the Butler

Hyppolit, despite being hired to refine the family, deliberately sabotages Schneider by suggesting he pursue Mimi, a singer at a sleazy nightclub. This appears to be Hyppolit's form of revenge or social commentary, using his authority to expose the absurdity of the Schneiders' pretensions. By encouraging Schneider to chase a woman far below their desired social standing, Hyppolit creates the very scandal that undermines their aspirations, revealing the hypocrisy of their social climbing.

Mimi crashes the dinner party after Schneider fails to show up for their scheduled date. Furious at being stood up, she storms into the villa demanding answers. Her timing is deliberate, she arrives during an important dinner attended by Makáts's influential uncle, creating maximum embarrassment for the family and exposing their fragile social pretense to all their guests.

Earlier, Schneider misses his date with Mimi, which directly triggers her angry intrusion.

Schneider's wife prefers Makáts because his uncle is a city councillor who could secure lucrative contracts and help cement the family's social position. The marriage is viewed as a business opportunity rather than a matter of the heart, István may be charming but offers no political connections, whereas Makáts represents practical advancement in their social climbing ambitions.

Hyppolit insists that Schneider shave his mustache as part of his transformation into an aristocratic gentleman. The mustache represents his humble origins and lack of refinement. Hyppolit also puts him in a dinner suit and teaches him to eat French cuisine instead of his beloved onions and roasted goose, each change designed to erase his working-class identity and project sophistication.

The moment Hyppolit arrives, he begins imposing new rules on the household.

Hyppolit spent 27 years serving a late count and traveled the world with that aristocratic family. This experience makes him uniquely qualified to tutor the Schneiders in refined living, but also gives him a condescending attitude toward their newly rich status. He knows exactly what aristocratic society expects, and uses this knowledge both to help and to mock their aspirations.

István Benedek works as the Schneiders' manager but is secretly a qualified engineer with a college diploma. He conceals this professional background, possibly because he wants Terka to love him for who he is rather than for potential social advancement his engineering career might bring, or because he prefers to remain in the background while pursuing their relationship on genuine terms.

Hyppolit completely transforms the household routines. He enforces strict discipline, introduces cosmopolitan manners, and puts the entire family on a demanding schedule. Schneider must wear formal clothes and eat French food. His wife undergoes grueling gymnastics and a strict diet. The home shifts from comfort to performance, with every detail curated for aristocratic appearance.

The Schneiders represent new money trying to buy entry into old money society. Schneider built his fortune quickly as a transportation entrepreneur, and his wife desperately wants to escape their humble origins. They believe that adopting aristocratic manners, appearance, and connections will grant them genuine social acceptance in elite circles.

The scandal at the dinner party, when Mimi bursts in and exposes Schneider's infidelity to important guests including Makáts's uncle, destroys the Schneiders' carefully constructed image. The public humiliation forces them to confront the gap between their pretensions and reality. This marks the turning point where their world turns upside down and they must reassess their values and priorities.

The film follows a classic farce structure with a happy ending. Terka actively pursues her preferred suitor István, ultimately winning him over despite her mother's objections. The family's social ambitions collide with reality, and they learn to balance aspiration with authenticity. The comedy resolves through the younger generation finding genuine connection rather than transactional relationships.