Self (archive footage)
Nicole Védrèss' chronicle of Paris from 1900 to 1914 is brought to life through the use of original material, all authentic, secured from more then 700 films belonging to public and private collections. A few of the celebrities of the time shown are Enrico Caruso, Sarah Bernhardt, and Maurice Chevalier.
Rocco, le chambellan de Laurent XVII
The turkey keeper, Bettina, brings good luck to those who make her work. She becomes the mascot of the good King Laurent XVII whose finances are in bad shape. In order for her to retain her beneficial power, an attempt is made to separate her from her lover, but in vain.
Under two different names, a journalist writes for two newspapers with opposing political doctrines and finds himself forced to fight a duel with himself.
Father Grenu
Duparquet is the controller of Les Halles, and plays matchmaker between the young farm-girl Ciboulette and Antonin, a young spoiled aristocrat.
A young man in love with a married woman takes the husband's place in the barracks and finds his rival there. But the fact that there are two Champignols in the ranks gives rise to many misunderstandings. But the husband preferring his painting, willingly abandons his pretty wife to the lover.
Tuvache
A traveler without a ticket gets off the train he has stopped, becomes an occasional station master, fraternizes with the inspector who is chasing him, protects the loves of the wife of the real station master who has abandoned his post to make sure of his wife's fidelity, and takes the train back when everything is settled.
Mr. Silvestry, nicknamed "The Hen" because he is raising his five daughters alone, for whom he does the housework, the shopping and the cooking, is invited to the Côte d'Azur by a wealthy American.
A hotel worker who is really an aristocrat falls for a lady customer but instead of getting married he prefers to stay at work and get what female company he can from the staff.
Monsieur Albert is a very elegant and much-appreciated butler. One day he falls in love with a client, Sylvia Robertson, and follows her to a winter sports resort. Sylvia does not recognize him and imagines that he is related to a king who goes incognito.
Miche, a young girl from the town of Senlis, goes to Paris to pose for a painter, Jacques de Peyrière. During her sitting, Jacques tries to kiss her, and Miche, insulted and afraid, flees the studio. Later in St. Moritz, Miche sees Jacques among the other skiers. She decides to leave immediately.
Dranem enters the barracks and takes off his field kit in preparation for some bunk time. However, every time he gets down to his skivvies, his field undress and pack reappear on him, ready for field maneuvers!