Kind Lady (1951 film)
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Edward Chodorov
Charles Bennett
1932 story
by Hugh Walpole
1935 play by Edward Chodorov
| Kind Lady | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Sturges |
| Screenplay by | Jerry Davis Edward Chodorov Charles Bennett |
| Based on | The Silver Mask 1932 story by Hugh Walpole 1935 play by Edward Chodorov |
| Produced by | Armand Deutsch |
| Starring | Ethel Barrymore Maurice Evans |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Edited by | Ferris Webster |
| Music by | David Raksin |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 78 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $911,000[1] |
| Box office | $500,000[1] |
Kind Lady is a 1951 American Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer crime film noir directed by John Sturges and starring Ethel Barrymore, Maurice Evans, Keenan Wynn and Angela Lansbury. The film is remake of the 1935 film of the same name that stars Aline MacMahon in the title role.
Painter Henry Elcott tricks wealthy art collector Mary Herries into permitting him, his wife Ada and their baby to live in her London home. Ada collapses and a doctor claims that she should not be moved. However, Elcott schemes to sell Mrs. Herries' art collection and her other possessions while holding her and her housemaid Rose captive in their bedrooms. Elcott's accomplices, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, become the butler and maid. Elcott masquerades as the nephew of Mrs. Herries who has come to tend to her affairs after a sudden mental breakdown.
The criminals taunt Mrs. Herries, placing her chair near a window after informing the neighborhood that any screams emanating from the house would be those of an insane woman. Mrs. Edwards is concerned that they are staying too long in the house, which Elcott intends to sell. Mrs. Herries tries to bribe Mrs. Edwards, but 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 had signed with his real name. Ada has seen Elcott kill before and realizes that he will kill again. She tries but is unable to free Rose, who is murdered by Mr. Edwards.
When the time comes to leave the house, Mr. Edwards approaches Mrs. Herries to push her out of the window, attempting to suggest suicide. However, the body in the chair has been switched by Mrs. Herries and Ada and is actually that of Rose. The police arrive and Elcott realizes that he and Mr. and Mrs. Edwards have made a fatal mistake.[2]
Cast
- Ethel Barrymore as Mary Herries
- Maurice Evans as Henry Springer Elcott
- Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Edwards
- Keenan Wynn as Edwards
- Betsy Blair as Ada Elcott
- John Williams as Mr. Foster
- Doris Lloyd as Rose
- John O'Malley as Antique Dealer
- Henri Letondal as Monsieur Malaquaise
- Moyna Macgill as Mrs. Harkley
- Barry Bernard as Mr. Harkley
- Sally Cooper as Lucy Weston
- Arthur Gould-Porter as Chauffeur
- Sherlee Collier as Aggie Edwards
- Phyllis Mooris as Dora
- Patrick O'Moore as Constable Orkin
- Keith McConnell as Jones
- Leonard Carey as Postman
- Victor Wood as Doc
Production
MGM announced the film project in March 1950, with Ethel Barrymore slated as the star. MGM hired Edward Chodorov, who had written the stage play Kind Lady with George Haight, to write the screen adaptation. The play had been based on the story "The Silver Mask" by Hugh Walpole.[3]