Claude Darget

Ambitious Emma Eckhert successfully makes her way into a world previously reserved for men: that of high finance. She quickly becomes popular with small savers, but leads a scandalous life that will cost her.

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.

Leading lawyer Andre Gobillot takes the case of Yvette, a young criminal. As he works on her defence, an unexpected romance blooms between them, only to be cut short by a tragedy.

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.

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.