It tells the story of five unemployed workers who win the jackpot in the national lottery but their solidarity then proves fragile.

Charlot (though the rest do not know) has left his faithless wife Gina, while Mario is an illegal immigrant from Spain who has got engaged to Huguette.

Rowing up the river Marne, they see a ruined laundry and agree to convert it themselves into a guinguette, a riverside restaurant and dance hall.

Jean Gabin's song Quand on s'promène au bord de l'eau was written by Duvivier, Yvain and Louis Poterat.

The film was made in June and July 1936 and coincided with the early days of the Léon Blum government and the strikes for better conditions.