Kind Lady (1951)

Mary Herries 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 ... See full summary »

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Jerry Davis (screenplay), Edward Chodorov (screenplay),

Stars:

Ethel Barrymore, Maurice Evans, Angela Lansbury

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ethel Barrymore	...	Mary Herries
Maurice Evans	...	Henry Springer Elcott
Angela Lansbury	...	Mrs. Edwards
Keenan Wynn	...	Edwards
Betsy Blair	...	Ada Elcott
John Williams	...	Mr. Foster
Doris Lloyd	...	Rose
John O'Malley	...	Antique Dealer
Henri Letondal	...	Monsieur Malaquaise
Moyna MacGill	...	Mrs. Harkley
Barry Bernard	...	Mr. Harkley
Sally Cooper	...	Lucy Weston
Arthur Gould-Porter	...	Chauffeur
Sherlee Collier	...	Aggie Edwards
Phyllis Morris	...	Dora

Storyline

Mary Herries 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 Elcott, who uses his painting skill to enter into her life. Little does she expect that his only interest in Mary is to covet everything she has.

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Plot Keywords:

suspense | crime wave | con artist | captive | art theft | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 June 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bondade Fatal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Moyna MacGill (Mrs. Harkley) is Angela Lansbury's mother in real life.

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Goofs

When Edwards drops load of firewood behind her, Mrs. Edwards acts startled even before bundle noisily hits floor.

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Connections

Version of Kind Lady (1935)

User Reviews

Most Chilling Film I've Ever Seen

I saw this black-and-white chiller on tv when I was a boy, some 35 years ago. Yet I recall scenes from it as though I saw it only last week. Imagine a group of seemingly well-bred people, patrons of the arts, befriending you--but then locking you in your house as they move in, and then hearing them tell visitors that you are delusional and being cared for by them. The scene in which the elderly victim is continually taunted while being forced to pose for the painting of her portrait--a rendering that, when completed, is seen to have grotesquely distorted her likeness to resemble that of a haggard, insane woman--is particularly spine-chilling. Without exaggeration, this is a gripping drama whose suspense few (if indeed any) can match. I only hope that someday it appears on video, so that I can purchase it for my library.