A debate on the definition of the word laughter, organized by Madame de Saint-Jules and two academicians, illustrated by film extracts, turns into a huge battle of cream pies.
Mr. Baron
Philippe and Sylvie have to do with Alvarez, a dangerous gang leader. They break up with him and commit robbery and murder. Sylvie suggests that Philippe take refuge in his quiet family. His younger sister Antoinette attracts and charms Philippe and excites the jealousy of Sylvie who informs Alvarez. The police get involved and Philippe is killed during a merciless fight.
The baron
Portrait of a two-faced man. By day he is rich, brilliant and respectable financial officer Lussac; at night, he becomes "Mirror", a ruthless gang leader in Marseilles.
Carrière
Martine discovers, on the eve of her wedding, that her mother, whom she believed to be dead, leads an adventurous life. Pierre, her fiancé, unable to overcome his family's opposition to the revelation of this news, decides to kidnap Martine. The adventurer, who is not recognized by her daughter, agrees to leave France. The family of the young man will no longer put obstacles in the way of marriage.
Ivolvine
Muichkine, a young Russian prince, returns home to St. Petersburg from a mental institution, determined to spread decency and kindness in the harsh and cruel world. He becomes betrothed to an innocent young girl while trying to save a less-innocent woman from her own travail, but jealousy and his own naivete conjoin to bring about unimaginable tragedy.
Mr. Lamy
During the Second World War, in occupied Paris, a group of high school students is more active at selling cigarettes and silk stockings than at studying. But the day a new philosophy teacher takes charge of their class, things begin to change. It must be said that Mademoiselle Bravard is not only a gifted educator but a charming young woman as well. Thanks to her, all the students end up passing their finals.
Nicolas, the owner of a small café, has had enough of his current life. Business-wise, customers are more and more scarce. As for the love side, the situation is not any better as Jacqueline, his charming wife, not content to be spendthrift, might well be cheating on him.. To escape this harrowing reality Nicolas decides to simulate his suicide and disappears. Lucky or unlucky draw? Both in fact as, on the one hand, Nicolas finds serenity but, on the other he wins a huge sum of money in a lottery. How will he manage to get the money now?
Symbolizing the destiny of man, Hora imposes her destiny on everyone. She appears to a petty bourgeois trying to escape from his mediocre life, to a frivolous mother, to a reveler in nightclubs, to a man stranded without money in a restaurant, to a young sportsman, to a singer tired of the selfishness of his listeners and to a condemned man. To each, she brings the imperative message of Time...
Monsieur Mouche
With a hand of steel, Hélène efficiently runs a big luxury perfume factory in Grasse. There is no room for fun in her dull businesswoman's life. Then, a car accident drops Claude Dubois, a painter, into her lap. But the artist will have to deploy all his subtle wiles and clever tricks to rouse Hélène's feelings and get her to enjoy the cozy life of a cherished wife.
Triboule
Mr. Gustave Bourdillon loves hopelessly the wife of the director of the institution where he is the only teacher. Soon a widow, the pretty wife of Mr. Calumet, agrees to marry the brave professor, but believes each onstant that her husband has returned in the form of his brave little dog Medor. After incredible situations and an immeasurable pursuit, Gustave Bourdillon and widow Émilie will live a deserved happiness.
The professional and sentimental misadventures of Maurice, a young engineer who works unsuccessfully on the development of a new model of airplane.
Florentin
In a small Provençal port, a young girl tries to divert a fisherman from his laborious life and his chaste loves.
Thibaudier
Jules Frémissin is shy and in love. The father of the object of his flame is also shy. The marriage proposal is very laborious, because before marrying Cécile Thibaudier, Jules must fight a duel with the arrogant Vancouver, convinced that all this eager and awkward courtship was intended for his own wife, also named Cécile.
Following a broadcast on the radio, each of the listeners remembers these "little nothings" (the title is borrowed from a play by Mozart), which have often changed their lives. Each of these stories told will prove that a tiny detail in life can change an entire destiny.
Nonancourt
Fadinard is going through the woods on his horse en route to his wedding. Unfortunately, his horse eats the straw hat of a married woman who is having a secret rendezvous with her lover. In order to save the woman's honor, Fadinard must find the exact same type of hat to replace the one his horse ate and still be able to get to his wedding on time.
Félix Raffut, a Périgord squire terrified by the German invasion, carries out the exodus of his family and his furniture towards supposedly hospitable places.
Maxime Exbrayat
Durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, a inocente Patrícia, uma menina do campo, filha de um homem que abre poços, é seduzida por Jacques Mazel, um charmoso aviador. Após encontros românticos à beira de um misterioso rio, Patrícia engravida de Jacques, que é enviado para a guerra. Quando a criança nasce, o seu pai, Pascal, expulsa-a de casa. A família de Jacques não quer reconhecer a paternidade do filho, o que poderá empurrar Patrícia para os braços de Felipe.
Le curé
Bienaimé, a modest postman, in love with Janine, the village postmistress, does not know that he is the illegitimate son of the old Baron de Mondésir. The Baron dies and in happy amazement, Bienaimé finds he is the sole heir to the deceased's estate. But he should be careful, for two crooks, Waldemar and Erika, are after his newly-acquired wealth.
Lamblin, the cashier
Jean Vernet, an unselfish banker, feels fine : he has a charming mistress, Jacqueline ; a godson, Fernand, that he took in when he was a child and that he has brought up and cherished ever since ; a faithful friend, Lamblin ; and an adorable dog. But things are not so rosy as they look. Adrienne, Jean's sister, hates Jacqueline and is prepared to do everything to separate the couple. Worse, it looks as though Fernand has betrayed his godfather by sleeping with Jacqueline. To know more about those around him, Jean, a modern Volpone, decides to fake deafness.
Derange
Caesar, a senior French colonist returned home after many years of absence, knows a girl, Marcella, who is in full depression because she was abandoned by her lover. Caesar welcomes her into his home and surrounds her with paternal attention so that he can quickly forget the past. Slowly his feeling turns into a love that Marcella seems to reciprocate. However, when Cesare realizes that the girl feels only gratitude for him and is in love with a younger man, he loses control. Blinded by jealousy, he plans to kill Marcella's lover but, in the face of the girl's vulgarity and indifference, he realizes that he has been teased and turns his anger towards her.
Georges Legrand is a young unscrupulous reveler. He seduces Fred, a woman doctor before shamelessly dumping her for Aline Ribourg, a tennis player. Soon fed up with his new conquest, he returns to Fred. But Aline is pregnant from him. Showing an admirable sense of self-sacrifice, Fred manages to persuade Georges to marry Aline.
Derange
Middle-aged Georges of the "old school" who offers shelter and comfort to Marcelle. Despite his own reservations, Georges falls in love with the much-younger girl, remaining faithful to her even after he realizes that she cares only for his money.
Florimond
Florimond, a dangerous smuggler, and his mistress Viviane try in vain to transfer illegal precious stones. When Viviane gets to know young Théo, a naive young peasant, she immediately capitalizes on the encounter. Thanks to her charm, she seduces him into becoming her accomplice. And, naturally, the operation is a success. Unfortunately for Florimond and Viviane, things soon go awry. Indeed, Théo's godfather, a customs officer, who has heard of the affair, lectures Théo and makes him become aware of the offense he has committed. The young man now wants to makes amends. Which is not to Florimond's liking.
An outgoing deputy, put on ballot, experiences many political and marital difficulties before regaining his seat. Ultimately and without suspecting it, he owes his victory obtained by a withdrawal at the last minute, to his young wife who did not hesitate to seduce the opponent.
Jolibois
Three "spinsters" focus their attention very narrowly on their nephew, in his first phase of adulthood. Éloi, handicapped by his shyness, behaves a bit awkwardly. He falls under the unfortunate influence of a couple of haddocks. The love of a pretty blonde woman will save him from this embarrassment.
Pierre loves Agnès who prefers Clément, an aviator. Out of desperation, he will commit suicide. Agnès then concludes a pact with him. During the three months that Clément will be absent, Pierre will be able to see her as much as he wants. She thinks that this time will be enough for the young man to realize that she is not the ideal woman for him.
Father La Cerise sells advice on the racetracks. He finds a wallet and returns it to its owner. The reward allows him to bet himself.
Jerome has made his wife to believe that he's in prison in order to spend a few days with his girlfriend. But the deal goes bad when he found himself arrested, but this time for real.
Lampion
How a simple sewer, a perfect look-alike of the president of the council, manages to reform a country and make himself loved by his fellow citizens.
Crainquebille, merchant of four seasons, is sentenced to fifteen days in prison for having insulted a police officer. When he leaves, his clientele moves away from him and Crainquebille thinks of suicide, when the affection of a kid from Montmartre makes him change his mind.
Flipotte, driven out of his band of burglars, takes the name, personality, house and checkbook of Monsieur Pardigon. When the real Pardigon returns, he doesn't stop him because he has learned from Flipotte that money can make people happy.
Sophie is the daughter of the concierge of a large building. One day, her father surprises her tenderly embraced by the viscount who is going to see his fiancee on the fifth floor. The concierge demands compensation but Sophie's fiance reclaims his beloved with authority.
A man is a hunter at Maxim's restaurant. He lives in the provinces and his family is unaware of his profession. As soon as he has enough money, he quits his job and goes home for his daughter's wedding to a marquis. This one is a regular at the restaurant and the man tries to prevent the wedding before the truth is discovered.
Bicard, dit « le Bouif »
Le Bouif is a popular figure on the Parisian racetrack. He has the patter, the aplomb, the bonhomie, which allows him to pass on indestructible pipes to the racegoers. The amazement is general when he is accused of murdering the person of his son-in-law and then suspected of having suppressed the owner of a stable. Faced with the stubbornness of the examining magistrate, but helped by sympathetic young people, the Bouif proves his innocence and, back on the lawn, measures his popularity.
An opinionated and cocky bookkeeper is certain he can rum his employer's business better than his employer can. The latter dive the bookkeeper a chance to demonstrate his management ability and skills, and promptly makes an unmitigated mess.
Les frères Mironton
The Mironton Brothers are part of a fairground attraction. One of them comes into a large inheritance, but the Friends of the Antenna association try to keep him from accessing the money. This formidable brotherhood, whose headquarters are in the Eiffel Tower, send the Mironton Brothers on impossible adventures and countless traps.
Bicard nicknamed Le Bouif earns 1,000 francs for lending his body to the experiments conducted by Professor Caligari. Further adventures await him when he encounters Ladislas, a young reveler, who happens to be the crown prince of Corinthia. This one, who favors living it up over his royal duty, commissions Bicard to replace him on the throne.