Napoli milionaria is a story of defeat, in particular the defeat of a family in a city thrown off balance by war, afflicted with deprivation and corruption, facing the strain of living with unemployment, shortages, and overcrowding. Desperate to survive during the Second World War, Matriarch Amalia directs her family's activities in the Italian black market, despite the disapproval of her husband, Gennaro. When Gennaro returns from his time as a prisoner-of-war, he discovers that his family has descended even deeper into the criminal world. First written in 1945, de Fillippo's play examines the plight of the poor and the moral corruption of the black market. Its first production featured both the author and his sister in major roles.