Police Inspector Harry Callahan has a bad reputation with his superiors for his ruthlessness in dealing with criminals. There is a reason for this ruthlessness: criminals are increasingly getting away with it. Even when arrested at the scene of a crime, they seek leniency, amnesties, etc. with the connivance of lawyers, judges and police officials. Then they go free again to wreak death. Callahan, nicknamed "Dirty Harry" because he is forced to do the dirtiest and bloodiest police work, tries his best to make sure the criminals don't get away with it....

Geneviève works in the family haberdashery selling umbrellas. She is in love with Guy, a car mechanic, and he reciprocates. But soon Guy is taken into the army and sent to Algeria. Parting, the lovers promise to wait for each other. Then Geneviève learns that she is pregnant, but there is no news from her beloved, and the girl agrees to marry a wealthy and respectable man.