André Fragman, nicknamed "Fairbanks" after his childhood idol by his film projectionist father, returns home from military service. He meets and falls in love with Marie, an aspiring actress who is rehearsing for a stage production of 'Alice in Wonderland'. All his attempts to find a job and a way out end up in failure, his friends Étienne and Jean-Pierre are powerless to help him, and the dreamy yet desperate hero loses his mind.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Patrick DewaereAndré | André |
 Miou-MiouMarie | Marie |
 Michel PiccoliEtienne | Etienne |
 John BerryFragman | Fragman |
 Jean-Michel FolonJean-Pierre | Jean-Pierre |
 Christiane TissotSylvie | Sylvie |
 Diane KurysAnnick | Annick |
 Jean LescotJeannot le régisseur | Jeannot le régisseur |
| JJean de ConinckLe photographe | Le photographe |
 Evane HanskaFrançoise | Françoise |
 Thierry LhermitteLe jeune cadre | Le jeune cadre |
| GGuiguin MoroL'assistante | L'assistante |
 Christian ClavierLe serveur | Le serveur |
 Yves BarsacqLe vieux cadre | Le vieux cadre |
 Jenny ClèveLa grand-mère | La grand-mère |
 Marc LamoleLe patron du bistrot | Le patron du bistrot |
| JJacques DichampLe vieux du bistrot | Le vieux du bistrot |
| MMichel PoujadeLe délégue syndical | Le délégue syndical |
 Mario GonzalesNot listed | Not listed |
 Jean-Claude PenchenatUn comédien d'Alice au pays des merveilles | Un comédien d'Alice au pays des merveilles |
| SSylvain SalnaveLe chef du chantier | Le chef du chantier |
| JJonathan SuttonUn comédien d'Alice au pays des merveilles | Un comédien d'Alice au pays des merveilles |