[1] It was shot at the Epinay Studios in Paris and on location around the city as well as at the Château de Lourmarin in Provence.

Monsieur St. Clair (Louis Jouvet), an aging romantic leading man, has decided to retire from the stage, but he is broke and goes to an old-age home for elderly actors.

One actor, Marny (Victor Francen), is a melancholy soul primarily because years ago his wife left him to have a fling with St. Clair and died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Cabrissade (Michel Simon), the third main protagonist of the film, is a prankster and free spirit who played mostly understudy roles during his career, and never even got the chance to star.

Cabrissade, however, delights in defying the management's rules and playing practical jokes on both staff and residents alike.

As the retirement home slides downhill, privileges like electricity after 9pm and evening wine are suspended, which prompts Cabrissade to lead a revolt of the residents against the management.

The wedding takes place and at the party afterward the director announces that he has succeeded in obtaining financing to keep the home open.

However, when he comes back downstairs St. Clair has descended into madness, performing scenes from Don Juan as if he were living them right there.