Mary Herries (Ethel Barrymore) has a passion for art and fine furniture. Even though she is getting on in years, she enjoys being around these priceless articles. One day she meets a strange young painter named Harry Springer Elcott (Maurice Evans), who uses his painting skill to enter into her life. Little does she expect that his only interest in her is to covet everything she has.—Tony Fontana <[email protected]>

Elderly, slightly frail and wealthy Mary Herries is a lover of the finer things in life in being a collector of among things art, including pieces by such famed masters as Rembrandt and El Greco. She is also kind woman who helps out people in her midst. One of those people who she helps is artist Henry Elcott, with whom she discusses art, including his own. On one of Henry's visit to Miss Herries' home, his wife, Ada Elcott, collapses outside, Miss Herries who offers her guest bedroom to Ada upon the attending physician's recommendation that she not be moved for at least a few weeks. But when some friends of the Elcotts, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, come to visit Ada and Henry has seemingly taken over the house, Miss Herries has finally had enough of the Elcotts. However by that time, it's already too late in Elcott having put all the pieces in place for his dastardly plan. Literally jailing Miss Herries and Rose the housekeeper in the house, Elcott, acting as Miss Herries' nephew, forces her to give him power of attorney in telling the outside world that she has had a mental breakdown, he planning on selling all of her possessions from her antiques and art, right down to her house. The Edwardses were solely hired by Elcott, they who have taken over the roles of household butler and maid, while Ada, to Miss Herries' eyes truly to be unhealthy, seems to be outside of the plan. It becomes a battle of wits between the six people in the house, especially between Miss Herries and Elcott, the victor seemingly the one who is able to divide and conquer.—Huggo