Albert Topaze, sincere schoolteacher addicted to rote morality, works at a private school run by supremely money-grubbing M. Muche, whose daughter, also a teacher, makes cynical use of the knowledge that Topaze loves her. Alas, Topazes naive honesty brings him unjust dismissal...and makes him fair game for the aunt of his private pupil, really the mistress of crooked politician Regis, who needs an honest-seeming front man. Can artful Suzy Courtois keep Topaze on the string? With steadily escalating disillusion comes moral crisis...
