Kind Lady (1951 Film)
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''Kind Lady'' is a 1951 American film noir crime film directed by
John Sturges John Eliot Sturges (; January 3, 1910 – August 18, 1992) was an American film director. His films include ''Bad Day at Black Rock'' (1955), '' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral'' (1957), '' The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), '' The Great Escape'' (19 ...
. It stars Ethel Barrymore, Maurice Evans, Keenan Wynn and Angela Lansbury. The film is remake of the 1935 film of the same name, which starred Aline MacMahon in the title role.


Plot

A seemingly kind painter, Henry Elcott, tricks wealthy art collector Mary Herries into letting him, his wife Ada and their baby live in her London home. Ada has collapsed and a doctor claims it is best she not be moved. It turns out to be a diabolical scheme by Elcott to sell off the artwork of Mrs. Herries and everything else of value she owns while holding her and her housemaid Rose captive in their bedrooms. Elcott's accomplices, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, take over as the butler and maid. Elcott masquerades as the lady's nephew, come to take care of her affairs due to a sudden mental breakdown. The criminals taunt Mrs. Herries, placing her chair near a window, having informed the neighborhood that any screams they hear would be those of a woman who has gone mad. In no hurry to leave, Elcott goes so far as to paint a portrait of her. Mrs. Edwards gets anxious that they are staying too long in the house, which Elcott intends to sell. Mrs. Herries tries to bribe her, but the brutal Mr. Edwards snatches the money from his wife and refuses to leave. Tensions rise as Mrs. Herries learns the true identity of Elcott from a portrait of his wife that he signed with his real name. Ada has seen Elcott kill before and realizes he will again. She tries to free Rose, but the maid is murdered by Mr. Edwards. The time comes to pack up and leave. Mr. Edwards goes upstairs to push Mrs. Herries out the window, an apparent suicide. But the body in the chair has been switched by Mrs. Herries and Ada and is actually that of Rose. The police are on their way and Elcott realizes that he and Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have made a fatal mistake.


Cast

* Ethel Barrymore as Mary Herries * Maurice Evans as Henry Springer Elcott * Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Edwards * Keenan Wynn as Edwards, the Butler *
Betsy Blair Betsy Blair (born Elizabeth Winifred Boger; December 11, 1923March 13, 2009) was an American actress of film and stage, long based in London. Blair pursued a career in entertainment from the age of eight, and as a child worked as an amateur danc ...
as Ada Elcott * John Williams as Mr. Foster * Doris Lloyd as Rose *
Moyna Macgill Moyna Macgill (born Charlotte Lillian McIldowie; 10 December 1895 – 25 November 1975) was an Irish actress from Belfast and the mother of actress Angela Lansbury and producers Edgar and Bruce Lansbury. In 2020, she was listed at number 35 on ...
as Mrs. Harkley, Rose's sister * Barry Bernard as Mr. Harkley *
Patrick O'Moore Patrick O'Moore (1909–1983) was an Irish actor who appeared in a variety of American films and television shows. Keaney p.445 A character actor, he appeared in a number of Hollywood's British-themed films during the 1940s and 1950s. Selected fi ...
as Constable Orkin


Reception

According to MGM records, the film made $361,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $139,000 in other markets, resulting in a loss to the studio of $664,000.


References


External links

* * * * 1951 films American crime drama films Remakes of American films Films scored by David Raksin Films about con artists Films directed by John Sturges Films set in London Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1951 crime drama films American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-drama-film-stub