A poor peasant family, a failed cabinet maker and an unemployed worker struggle in contrast to crooked rich businessmen. nearby.A Communist meeting gives young workers hope for a better future.

Lydia (Danielle Darrieux) is a student, poor and orphaned, who pretends to be the daughter of a famous writer.

Inspector Maigret investigates the murders of two paranoid women, an unknown woman whose body was discovered by a burglar during a robbery, and a seemingly meek and boring man.