Fred Maubert, an innocent convicted of a crime he did not commit, escapes from prison and goes in search of the real culprit. He begins by looking for his former mistress, Simone, who has since married Doctor Bréville and lives in Canada.

In French Equatorial Africa, an idealist campaigns to save the African elephant, gaining support from a nightclub hostess and an ex-soldier. His cause attracts a mix of characters, including a U.S. commentator, a government aide opposed to him, and an ivory hunter with conflicting interests.

A struggling actor seems doomed to live life as a loser. When he finally snatches a lead role as a superhero named “Badman,” he feels like everything is possible, but fate strikes again.