Gates of the Night is a French drama that takes place in post-war France. The story revolves around a working-class family and their encounters with destiny, love, and tragedy. The film delves into themes of collaboration, resistance, and the impact of the war on individuals. It follows the lives of various characters, including a street singer, a salesman, and a railway worker. The story explores the dynamics of male friendship, jealousy, and the consequences of betrayal. The narrative is set against the backdrop of a post-war Paris, and the metro system plays a significant role in the plot. The film ultimately contemplates the notion of fate and its influence on the lives of the characters.

The eccentric characters of a street from the comic designs of Andre Dubout are brought to life with human performers instead of drawings.

Muichkine, a young Russian prince, returns home to St. Petersburg from a mental institution, determined to spread decency and kindness in the harsh and cruel world. He becomes betrothed to an innocent young girl while trying to save a less-innocent woman from her own travail, but jealousy and his own naivete conjoin to bring about unimaginable tragedy.

Christiane, a gullible young girl who wants to become a dancer, is lured by Daniel, a handsome, elegant talker. He takes her to Tangiers and forces her to work in a shady cabaret. Christiane is in for a rude awakening.

Rather than commit suicide, it is better to stay at the clinic of Professor Patureau-Duparc. This practitioner experiments on his clients with a serum that modifies their personality. Thus Yolande and Albert become new Romeo and Juliet. They end up marrying each other after having regained their primitive selves. Their married life is then a hell and they welcome with joy the proposal of a new injection of serum.

During the Great War, in Austria, an officer was shot on the orders of his superior von Pennwitz. Out of revenge, his widow becomes a spy in the pay of France, preoccupied with removing the person responsible for her husband's death. In charge of a mission to von Pennwitz, she suddenly finds herself face to face with her husband, who is still alive. It was a ruse of war to deceive the enemy. It is only at the armistice that the couple will be able to live in peace.

Brussels in the year 1568, as the Flemish people are fighting against the tyranny of the Spanish occupiers. Led by Count de Rysoor, the revolt against the ruthless Duke of Alba, is meant to help Prince William of Orange to get into the city and come to power. Now, the count's lieutenant, has an affair with Elisabeth, Rysoor's wife. For the time being, the count, who thinks of his homeland first, turns a blind eye. But such a relationship might well undermine the whole rebellion movement.

Following the assassination of a financier, several people who had an interest in seeing him disappear are suspected.

In Marseille, a customs inspector falls in love with a young woman involved in dubious traffic.

An aristocrat short of the readies, Gontran, is to marry a wealthy girl of common birth; but he has to get rid of his lover.

Patrica is the wife of Alain de Saulieu, a handsome engineer. She unfortunately loses her husband, who is killed in action during a battle of the First World War. At least, this is only the official truth, for Alain is not dead. Patricia indeed recognizes him one day. But the inverse does not work the other way around: Alain has become amnesiac and he does not remember her. And worst of all, he lives in a conjugal relationship with Germaine, his dedicated nurse, who is now pregnant by him. What has the future in store then for the three (not to say four) of them?

A merchant, without audacity with women, is dragged by a friend into the worst marital complications. His setbacks will ultimately pay him off.