Successful actress Vanna Du Maurier ignores her friends' advice and overworks herself toward her goal of having her own theater. She is introduced to Henri De Greve, a millionaire who might help her, but she recognizes him to be her former husband, the father of her son, Teddy, and a thoroughgoing cad, and therefore refuses to have anything to do with him. The shock of seeing De Greve is hard on Vanna, however, and--fearing the loss of her youthful beauty--she visits a physician in Vienna to be rejuvenated. Vanna returns thoroughly changed and even invites the attentions of De Greve when she realizes his interest in Sylvia Grayson, Teddy's sweetheart. Teddy turns against his mother, Sylvia attempts to drown herself, and Vanna lures De Greve to her boudoir, where she discloses his past and gives him a beating with a riding crop. Sylvia and Teddy are reunited and forgive Vanna, who now recognizes the folly of vanity and accepts the proposal of long-time admirer Richard Dowling.—AFI
Vanna Du Maurier, a famous actress, has been overtaxing her strength for months in an exacting role. She promises her faithful suitor, Richard Dowling, that she will give it up and rest as soon as she has achieved her lifelong ambition of having her own theatre. Theatrical manager Bill Conners invites worldly Henri De Grove to one of Vanna's performances, hoping De Grove will finance Vanna's project. Conners takes De Grove backstage to meet Vanna after the show. But Vanna's initial smile changes to an expression of fear, and she tells Conners she does not want the theatre. Conners and Dowling, who is waiting to take Vanna home, are mystified by her behavior, while De Grove simply smiles. Vanna's son Teddy comes home from the university. His girlfriend Sylvia has been in Vanna's play, and Vanna has taken quite a liking to her. Teddy finds his mother feeling the strain of work and beginning to show her age. While Teddy and Sylvia hold a romantic reunion at Vanna's home, the maid enters with the portable telephone and tells Vanna someone wants to speak with her. It is De Grove, and he asks if he can come over that afternoon. Vanna says "no" emphatically, and hangs up. De Grove, however, shows up, and forces his way in. In a big scene, De Grove is revealed as Teddy's father, whom Vanna had left fifteen years earlier. That evening, Vanna is too distraught to leave for the theatre. Doctors tell Conners that Vanna's nerves are shattered and she must have absolute rest and quiet. After months of a lingering illness, Vanna is found at her country estate, too old and haggard to appear in the roles to which she had become accustomed. When she asks Conners why he has not brought her any new plays, the manager is embarrassed, and admits that the stage wants youth. Vanna hears of a famous rejuvenation process in Vienna, and tells her maid to pack. When Vanna returns from Vienna, she is again the beautiful actress she was twenty years before. But her beauty has come at the expense of her personality. De Grove, who has been pursuing Sylvia despite Vanna's protestations, is again drawn to Vanna. To the surprise, and horror, of everyone, Vanna accepts his attention. Meanwhile, De Grove has financed Sylvia in a play and is going to build her the theatre he had considered for Vanna. Vanna demands that De Grove close Sylvia's show, which he does. Dowling attempts to intercede, but is unsuccessful. Teddy pleads in vain with his mother to break with De Grove. Sylvia feels she cannot marry Teddy because of her relationship with De Grove. Vanna entices De Grove to come to her boudoir, where she then horse-whips him with a riding crop. Teddy, breaking into the scene, rushes at De Grove with a bronze figure as a weapon, but is floored by the cad. Sylvia tries to commit suicide by leaping into a river at night, but is saved by Dowling. Dowling goes to De Grove's place and the two fight, with Dowling winning. Dowling finally persuades Vanna to marry him, and Teddy and Sylvia are reunited.
