A chambermaid plots to climb the social ladder by marrying a wealthy man.

Célestine (Paulette Goddard), the chambermaid, has a new job in the country, at the Lanlaires. She has decided to use her beauty to seduce a wealthy man, but Mr. Lanlaire (Reginald Owen) is not a right choice: the house is firmly controlled by Madame Lanlaire (Dame Judith Anderson), helped by the strange valet Joseph (Francis Lederer). Then she tries the neighbor, former officer Mauger (Burgess Meredith). This seems to work. But soon the son of the Lanlaires comes back. He is young, attractive, and does not share his mother's anti-Republican opinions. So Célestine's beauty attracts Captain Mauger, young Georges Lanlaire (Hurd Hatfield), and Joseph. Three men, from three different social classes, with three different conceptions of life. Will Célestine be able to convince Georges of her sincerity? Will sinister and inflexible Joseph let his views on Célestine be ruined? A quite disillusioned depiction of humanity.—Yepok

Celestine, a headstrong, opinionated young chambermaid, lands a job at the home of the wealthy Lanlaire family. She is determined to improve her station in life and one day have her own estate. Her ambition becomes more reachable when she meets and befriends George, the Lanlaires' son.—grantss