The scene is the restless Paris of the interwar years where an attractive and ambitious woman successfully makes her way in a world previously reserved for men: that of high finance. Originating from a humble background, she quickly becomes popular with small savers by offering them outstanding interest rates. Extremely popular, she makes no secret of her taste for the good things in life and her homosexual affairs. They will cost her dearly...

Louis-Philippe Fourchaume, another typical lead-role for French comedy superstar Louis de Funès, is the dictatorial CEO of a French company which designs and produces sail yachts, and fires in yet another tantrum his designer André Castagnier, not realizing that man is his only chance to land a vital contract with the Italian magnate Marcello Cacciaperotti. So he has to find him at his extremely rural birthplace in 'la France profonde', which proves a torturous odyssey for the spoiled rich man; when he does get there his torment is far from over: the country bumpkin refuses to resume his slavish position now the shoe is on the other foot, so Fourchaume is dragged along in the boorish family life, and at times unable to control his temper, which may cost him more credit then he painstakingly builds up...

Bernard Noblet is a modest bank clerk with a passion for billiards. His fiancée Juliette, a schoolteacher, dreams of one day living the high life, and his best friend Roger, a little-known inventor, is equally despairing. After careful consideration, a solution emerges: a cleverly organized hold-up will enable them to live in luxury for the rest of their lives. Bernard soon makes the acquaintance of Bettina and her mother, Madame Ralton, professionals in the "heist" business.

He's twenty-five. She's thirty-five. He is a young agricultural engineer. She runs a nightclub in Cahors. He's a runner and a pretty boy. She's beautiful and unscrupulous. They like each other. People gossip about them. He persists. She leaves, afraid to see such a beautiful love deteriorate. She returns. He wants to marry her. She tells him it's no longer possible. Out of spite, he throws stones into the bushes. And then, after all, he comes to his senses.

Promoted to wrestling champion by chance, Tonin, known as le Bourreau de l'Ardèche, moves to Paris. He is quickly snapped up by Monsieur Bob, a self-styled manager who, in reality, hides his dealings under the cover of a nightclub, but who is also Tonin's regimental buddy. So Tonin acts as a front man, while Bob provides him with fake victories. The beautiful Wanda, the gangster's mistress, appeals to Tonin; she's charitable and sets him on the right path. He returns to the Ardèche and marries the daughter of the village mayor, after learning what a dangerous protector Bob is.

Married French lawyer Andre defends succesfully the case of Yvette, who committed a robbery. He falls in love with her, but she isn't true to him.

A documentary showing the pride France took in its position as an Empire, during the period after the Munich accords when it felt threatened by bullying from Italy and the possibility of war still with Germany.