Chicago in the 1930s: Young veterinarian Jacob Jankowski finds himself with nothing after the tragic death of his parents. When he is offered a job at Benzini's spectacular show, a third-rate traveling circus, he quickly makes friends among the performers, the human curiosities, and the hard-working helpers behind the scenes. The wonderful animals of the menagerie become his new family. Soon, he also loses his heart: to the enchanting equestrian Marlena - and almost equally to Rosie, a charming, gluttonous elephant who stubbornly refuses to perform any tricks. Unfortunately, Rosie's stubbornness becomes a real problem during the hunger times of the Great Depression - though not as significant as Marlena's dangerously jealous husband.