This film originated as a play in Paris. The story focuses on the one-day adventures of Bertrand Barnier played with a genius of French cinema, Louis de Funes. In the same morning he learns that his daughter is pregnant, an employee stole a large amount of money from his company, his maid is about to resign in order to marry a wealthy neighbor and his body builder is interested in marrying his daughter. The seemingly complicated story-line is full of comedy or errors and some of the most hilarious mime scenes of the French cinema.
Determined to assert his paternal rights, Quentin leaves his small village on the Swiss border to go to Lyon to look for his daughter, now a hairdresser, who, busy with her work, hasn't been back to the village for two years. In a few days, it will be Denise's birthday, the youngest of his daughters, and, urged on by his wife, he sets off, determined to bring the prodigal son back to the family celebration. But Denise is now living off her charms.
Special agent Becker is after a briefcase that rather cleverly disguises some secret documents.
A few stories about marriage and its problems. Antoine is about to marry Gisèle. His friend Julien, an established bachelor, desperately tries to convince him not to do it, recounting his own painful experiences.
A Russian spy is sent out to steal sensitive information from NATO about military mobilization. Without much intelligence of his own, the distrusted agent of Soviet intelligence needs all the help he can get from his "talented" partner Penelope Lightfeather as they scatter around the French countryside for secret rendez-vous' while trying to avoid being caught by counter intelligence agents and distrustful communist operatives.
Life in a one-parent family with a focus on the parent, Henri Neveu (Jean Gabin), is the topic of this standard drama with a dash of comedy. While Henri was a POW during the war, his wife passed away and he returned to face the challenges of bringing up three children alone. Henri may get drunk and angry at times but he also has a better side that will not stay buried. Since handling three children alone is no easy task, the single father has the choice of growing in the process or not.
Onésime Labarbe, a "crawler" in the French Air Force, wants to become a pilot. He hopes to triumph over the sarcasm of his prankster comrades and win the hand of his beloved. Onésime has anticipated this by pretending to be a pilot in front of the young girl and her parents. It's true that they are no more barons than Onésime is a pilot, despite what his fiancée Pulchérie has said. The young soldier's efforts are not without their mishaps and setbacks. Yet his faith and tenacity triumphed over all obstacles. He is finally accepted as a pilot, while Pulchérie, through a misunderstanding, becomes an unwilling parachutist and, at the same time, a champion jumper. The deception is uncovered, but what does it matter to the two fiancés, who are joyfully celebrated by the entire Escadrille and can at last look forward to their long-awaited happiness?
Struggling actor Simon witnesses a murder; he didn't see the killer, but that doesn't stop him from claiming that he did in order to get his name into the papers. Sure enough, the murderer targets him as his next victim. Our hero is temporarily rescued by Jeanne, a fellow aspiring actress who has always had a crush on him.
Four women were murdered, each was knifed and, though they had their clothes torn, they weren't molested. As the famed police inspector Jules Maigret pieces the clues together, he comes to realize that for the elusive man that he suspects to be unmasked, he has to set him a trap.
An uncle in America wants to endow his nieces with a dowry, provided they succeed in making a name for themselves one night at the Moulin Rouge, where one of them is already performing. Everyone's pulling out all the stops to help the girls put on an act, dupe the theater manager and win the dowry - which will be doubled if they manage to marry, as their uncle is marrying the star of the show.
Around 1900, Zaza was the undisputed star of the "Variétés parisiennes". Bonded with pianist Cascard, she indulges in adventures and falls in love with handsome Bernard Dufresne. A short affair. Surprised by her friend's behavior, she believes he has a mistress in the provinces. In reality, he is married and Zaza, faced with her daughter, prefers to step aside. From now on, she'll live for her art, and will always refuse to renew her acquaintance with the man who made her suffer.
Philippe, an employee at the Bourdinet firm, having been caught kissing Jacqueline, his boss's daughter, is fired. Some time later, Bourdinet launches a radio quiz show to boost his business. Philippe then decides to compete in the hope of telling the thousands of listeners what he thinks of the industrialist. A blow on the head having given him a gift of second sight, the competitor becomes impeccable and wins astronomical sums to the great despair of Bourdinet. Everything will work out in the end and Philippe will be able to marry Jacqueline.
After being hurt in the face, Count de Roger Tinchebraye is forced to hide his disfigured face behind a leather mask. Dispirited for a while, he decides to become a Casanova-like seductor. When he meets true love, cynical Roger does not believe in it and lets pure Judith marry an old marquis. But once Judith's husband dies, he sees Judith again, shows her his disfigured face, which does not discourage the young woman from loving him. Nevertheless, he distances himself from her forever
A famous singer disappears in a plane crash. Her two little girls are given a new home by their grandfather. Unfortunately the good man has an old housekeeper who goes out of her way to make their lives impossible. In desperation the two brats run away to Paris. Meanwhile, the girl's father manages to steal important documents. In the end, Gaby and Ginette track down their mother who had not got killed at all. All is well that ends well.