1954 Paris, Victor Le Garrec, a former professional boxer, runs a gym and works hard to train young recruits to achieve the goals he wasn't able to reach during his professional career. He feels this is finally possible when he recognizes the potential in Andre Menard, a young railway worker. Victor offers to train him and André accepts willingly, although he soon realizes that Victor's wife Blanche (Arletty) is not happy with the arrangement. Andre's attention is soon drawn away from his training when he starts to have an affair with a wealthy young woman, Corinne (Marie Daems). In the end, he may have to choose between the woman he loves and his career as a world-class boxer...