Orgon and his mother swear by Tartuffe, the self-styled devout who lives off them. The other members of the family, scandalized by the clergyman's hold over them, will do anything to expose his hypocrisy. Michel Bouquet plays an almost monstrous Tartuffe, whose only weakness lies in his feelings for Elmire.

Backstage at a Paris theater, a famous, exasperatingly fatuous playwright learns that the actress who was to play the lead in his play is expecting a child. No great actress is available to take on the role. Except the famous actress Gabrielle Tristan, to whom he was married for ten years and to whom he no longer speaks. But their love of theater and their playfulness outweigh all their grudges, and Gabrielle takes on her ex-husband's play.

This story is set in the 13th century, in Britain, where Lancelot, who was raised by Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, becomes one the Knight of the Round Tables and falls secretly in love with Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, for whom he wants to accomplish many deeds.