At the beginning of the 20th century, the destiny of Félicie Nanteuil, a young girl from the provinces who became a big star on the stage thanks to a comedian who committed suicide out of love for her.

A French novelist passes off an African shepherdess as a princess.

A theater troupe is touring Manon Lescaut, starring Denise, whose husband is a sick alcoholic. Tired of his violent outbursts, and wanting to rebuild her life, she runs away and finds refuge with a doctor who hires her as a nurse in his clinic. However, another jealous nurse commissions a detective to investigate, and ends up uncovering Denise's past.

Vénus aveugle (Blind Venus) is a 1941 French film melodrama, directed by Abel Gance, and one of the first films to be undertaken in France during the German occupation. Although the film is not set in any specified period, Gance wanted it to be seen as relevant to the contemporary situation in France. He wrote, "...La Vénus aveugle is at the crossroads of reality and legend... The heroine ... gradually sinks deeper and deeper into despair. Only when she has reached the bottom of the abyss does she encounter the smile of Providence that life reserves for those who have faith in it, and she can then go serenely back up the slope towards happiness. If I have been able to show in this film that elevated feelings are the only force that can triumph over Fate, then my efforts will not have been in vain."