No século XV, a França é uma nação derrotada e arruinada após a Guerra dos Cem Anos contra a Inglaterra. A menina de fazenda de 14 anos de idade Joana D'Arc afirma ouvir vozes do Céu pedindo-lhe para levar Exército de Deus contra Orleans e coroando o fraco Delfim Charles VII como Rei da França. Joana arregimenta as pessoas com a sua fé, forma um exército e conquista Orleans. Quando seu exército está pronto para atacar Paris, o corrupto Charles vende seu país para a Inglaterra e dissolve o exército. Joana é presa, vendida ao Burgundians Ingleses e submetida a um julgamento político vergonhoso no castelo de Rouen.
Baronski has had enough of being a small-time merchant and decides, aided by his daughter Esther, to try his hand at big business. Why not be a film producer for instance? But it is easier said than done and he is soon relieved of 100,000 francs by a crook. Undaunted, he produces a film written by a young scriptwriter, Maurice Rogier, discovered by his daughter but does not believe it could become a success. Esther, for her part, decides to have "L'ange que j'ai vendu" shown in a local movie theater and the film immediately proves a hit. All is well that ends well, Esther marrying Maurice into the bargain.
For years now, Chief inspector Gustave Picard has been trying to bring down Salviati, the dreadful leader of a drug-selling gang. Lucienne Préville, an informer who works for him, has infiltrated the gang but her position is dangerous. On the other hand, Scoppa, Salviati's former right-hand man, has started challenging his former boss. Will Salviati, the brutal public enemy, clear off at last?
The spahi Jean Peyral is very in love with the flirtatious Cora. When he realizes that she betrays him, he tries to kill himself. He is saved by the tenderness of a young native, Fatou.
Wirsoq, who belongs to the type of cosmopolitan financier, gets into his power a young French aristocrat, Arthur de Sorgepois, and insists that the boy's sister should marry him. The girl is in love with a young artist, Pierre Levannier, who secretly returns her affection, but does not declare himself at this critical moment because he is not rich enough to support a wife.
