It tells the story of an unhappy young grocer's assistant who dreams of becoming a grand dramatic actor, but when he gatecrashes a film studio they realise he is a natural comic.

Irénée lives and works in the little grocery shop of his childless uncle, who brought him up, and dreams of becoming a famous and rich film actor with an exotic car.

They play along with his obsession, calling him the village idiot or schpountz, and even give him a fake contract.

But Irénée withdraws his savings and, taking a train to Paris, arrives at the studio, from which he is repeatedly thrown out.

The head of the studio gives him a real contract, which he will not sign until he also gets a Peugeot 601 Éclipse convertible, and on the strength of this he proposes to Françoise.