''Kind Lady'' is a 1935 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by George B. Seitz starring Aline MacMahon, Basil Rathbone and

Mary Carlisle Mary Carlisle (born Gwendolyn Witter; February 3, 1914 – August 1, 2018) was an American actress, singer, and dancer, best known for her roles as a wholesome ingénue in numerous 1930s musical-comedy films. She starred in more than 60 Holly ...

. It is based on the play of the same name by

Edward Chodorov Edward Chodorov (April 17, 1904 – October 9, 1988), was a Broadway playwright, and the writer or producer of over 50 motion pictures. Filmography * ''Kind Lady (1951 film), Kind Lady'' (1951, writer) * ''Road House (1948 film), Road House'' ...

and a short story called ''The Silver Mask'' by

Hugh Walpole Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (13 March 18841 June 1941) was an English novelist. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, intended for a career in the church but drawn instead to writing. Among th ...

Doris Lloyd Hessy Doris Lloyd (3 July 1891 – 21 May 1968) was an English–American film and stage actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in ''The Time Machine'' (1960) and ''The Sound of Music'' (1965). Lloyd appeared in two Academy Award w ...

appeared in this film and its 1951 remake of the same name in different roles.

Plot

Wealthy and charitable Mary Herries ( Aline MacMahon) is tricked by aspiring artist Henry Abbott ( Basil Rathbone) into letting him and ill wife Ada (Justine Chase) stay in her stately home. When he invites friends Mr. and Mrs. Edwards (

Dudley Digges Sir Dudley Digges (19 May 1583 – 18 March 1639) was an English diplomat and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1610 and 1629. Digges was also a "Virginia adventurer," an investor who ventured his capital in the Virginia ...

and

Eily Malyon Eily Malyon (born Eily Sophie Lees-Craston; 30 October 1879 – 26 September 1961) was an English character actress from about 1900 to the 1940s. She had a stage career in Britain, Australia and America before moving to Hollywood to perfo ...

) to pay a visit, they overstay their welcome as well. Days turn into weeks, making Mary and housemaid Rose ( Nola Luxford) increasingly anxious for everyone to leave. It turns out to be a plot masterminded by the silky and sinister Abbott to steal everything Mary owns. He masquerades as a relative and they as her butler and maid, holding Mary and Rose captive in their rooms. Outsiders are told that Mary has gone on holiday to America and won't return for a long time. The plot thickens as Rose is killed. The suspicions of Mary's nephew, Peter Santard, are confirmed when no record of Mary applying for a passport can be found. The police arrive just in time to save her and place Abbott under arrest.

Cast

* Aline MacMahon as Mary Herries * Basil Rathbone as Henry Abbott *

as Phyllis *

Frank Albertson Francis Healey Albertson (February 2, 1909 – February 29, 1964) was an American actor who had supporting roles in films such as ''It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946) and ''Psycho (1960 film), Psycho'' (1960). Early life Albertson was a nat ...

as Peter Santard *

as Mr. Edwards *

as Lucy Weston * Nola Luxford as Rose *

Murray Kinnell Murray Kinnell (24 July 1889 – 11 August 1954) was a British-born American actor, recognized for playing smooth, gentlemanly, although rather shady characters. He appeared in 71 films in the USA between the pre-code era of 1930 and 1937. He wa ...

as Doctor *

as Mrs. Edwards * Justine Chase as Ada Abbott * Barbara Shields as Aggie Edwards * Donald Meek as Mr. Foster *

Frank Reicher Frank Reicher (born Franz Reicher; December 2, 1875 – January 19, 1965) was a German-born American actor, director and producer. He is best known for playing Captain Englehorn in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Early life Reicher was born in Mu ...

as Gustave Roubet (as Frank Reigher)

References

External links

* * * * 1935 films 1935 crime drama films American crime drama films American black-and-white films Films about con artists American films based on plays Films directed by George B. Seitz Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films set in London Films scored by Edward Ward (composer) 1930s English-language films 1930s American films {{1930s-crime-drama-film-stub