Honest French teacher Albert Topaze (Peter Sellers) is fired after refusing to alter the bad grades of a baroness' grandson. Sensing an opportunity, actress Suzy (Nadia Gray) convinces her lover, corrupt city council member Castel Benac (Herbert Lom), to hire Topaze as a managing director for one of his businesses to mitigate any suspicion. When Topaze learns he is being used, he decides to swindle his manipulators. Based on a Marcel Pagnol play, this film was Sellers' sole directorial effort.