Orgon and his mother swear by Tartuffe, the self-styled devout who lives off them. The other members of the family, scandalized by the clergyman's hold over them, will do anything to expose his hypocrisy. Michel Bouquet plays an almost monstrous Tartuffe, whose only weakness lies in his feelings for Elmire.

Orgon et sa mère ne jurent que par Tartuffe, qui se dit dévot et vit à leurs crochets. Les autres membres de la famille, scandalisés par l’emprise de l’homme d’église, vont tout tenter pour révéler son hypocrisie.