Historical film directed and written by Sacha Guitry follows the the history of Paris from its founding through the significant events in the city's history.

Two scriptwriters argue about the fate of Henrietta, a charming and gamine shopgirl. One favors a comical path for their heroine, who is overcome with sentimental love for a young photographer on Bastille Day. The other has a more thrilling and dastardly fate in mind for her. Among the film's irresistible conceits is Hildegarde Neff as an oversexed circus bareback rider.

In Paris in 1314, the knight Jean Buridan is in love with Mirtille but the young woman is already coveted by the king's brother.

In order to please Martineau, a wealthy industrialist, cynical Gabory accepts to organize a rigged beauty contest whose winner will be Françoise, Martineau's young mistress. However, there are other comely contestants among whom Christiane, the daughter of a general, Jackie, an unemployed actress, Colette, the daughter of a distiller and Marie, a secretary engaged to serious-minded construction foreman Robert. So, will things turn out exactly the way Martineau and Gabory want them...?

"Olivia" captures the awakening passions of an English adolescent sent away for a year to a small finishing school outside Paris. The innocent but watchful Olivia develops an infatuation for her headmistress, Mlle. Julie, and through this screen of love observes the tense romance between Mlle. Julie and the other head of the school, Mlle. Cara, in its final months.

A married industrialist maintains three mistresses. On the instructions of his wife, the tax inspector seizes the small notebook where he records his illegal dealings. After a stormy marital explanation, the industrialist decides to reduce his costs by getting rid of his mistresses and expresses the intention of returning to legality. But he realizes that everyone, even his wife, prefers the old situation, fraud and mistresses, thanks to which everyone found his little profit.