Le paradis (1914)

Sosthène Pontbichot and his wife travel from the provinces to Paris with their daughter Jeanne, with the specific aim of finding her a husband. But once in the capital, Sosthène also intends to live it up. To that end, he wants his future son-in-law to have a mistress, whom he evidently plans to “take over.” A painter by the name of Delacroix asks for Jeanne’s hand, and, to meet his future father-in-law’s demands, passes off their neighbor Claire Taupin as his mistress. This is arranged by paying a handsome sum to Baron Fléchard, Claire’s greedy accountant. In reality, Claire is engaged to Crick, the lion tamer. Grésillon, a family friend of the Pontbichots, is also smitten with Claire, despite being married, and periodically sends her hefty checks. A fantastical series of misunderstandings ensues, which Crick brings to an end by setting his lions on them. Sosthène and Delacroix manage to escape the disrepute they have fallen into in the eyes of Jeanne and her mother, but only by paying Fléchard handsomely once again. Jeanne and Delacroix’s happy marriage follows.