Just before wowing international critics and moviegoers with his adventure romp Fanfan la Tulipe, director Christian-Jaque dashed off the lampoonish Barbe-Bleue. Ostensibly the story of the famed wife-killing potentate Bluebeard (Pierre Brasseur), this lighthearted costumer begins as the title character is poised to march down the matrimonial aisle for the eighth time. Barbe-Bleue's newest spouse Aline (Cécile Aubry) is kept in line by her husband's claims of murdering her predecessors. But when Aline opens the famous locked door to the equally famous hidden room, both she and the audience are in for quite a surprise. The frivolous nature of Barbe-Bleue is underlined by its pleasing utilization of the French Gezacolor process.

Ellinor Patton is so wealthy that her six unsuccessful marriages are considered befitting of her status. She is currently unhappily single again and hoping for her lucky number seven. Vico, the hotel owner's son, dreams of a career as a singer and is in love with the flower girl Blanche. His father is eagerly trying to prevent both. Vico proves that he really has talent at a concert by the Mantovani orchestra.

In the Danish port city of Belgesund, the caretaker of a private high school has fallen victim to murder. Detective Thomsen takes on the case and finds that behind the clean facade there are abysses. He has five suspects in mind: the teacher Berling, who is having a relationship with a student, the twin brother and sole heir of the murdered man, the murdered man's shady roommate, the primary school teacher Klaus Erikson and his brother Jakob.

Vera Romeyke is an idealistic and committed teacher who tries to interest her pupils in the subject matter with new forms of teaching. In role-playing games, they are encouraged to reflect on their own lives and those of their parents and learn to question social conventions. The conservative parents fear that this project is aimed at "left-wing indoctrination". They turn to the school authorities, who eventually transfer Vera Romeyke.