Kind Lady (1935) User Reviews

bad boy Basil!

[stilrockn · 8/10 · 2 November 2006]

I woke up one morning about 3:00 with the TV was still on, I go to sleep watching TCM, I love the old black and whites. A movie called Kind Lady was playing, and although I was still sleepy, I couldn't stop watching this incredibly disturbing movie about a lovely kind woman played beautifully by Aline MacMahon and the most unlikable despicable character, played to the hilt by Basil Rathbone! I missed the very beginning so don't know why or how he got invited in the first place but the premise is that she's wealthy and generous and invites him, a starving artist, for some reason into her home. She's a collector and has some very famous and expensive paintings hanging in her living room, and after a few visits and a scam involving a pretend wife and starving baby, this horrid man manages to take over her entire life.. I just hated him, he played this character so well that the only thing I can say is that I found it disturbing! Of course it was made in the 30's so it's reasonably naive by today's standard, but a great movie nevertheless!

home invasion

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 15 September 2010]

"Kind Lady" is based on a stage play. This version stars Aline MacMahon, Basil Rathbone, Nola Luxford, Mary Carlisle, and Donald Meek. It was remade with Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans in 1951.

"Kind Lady" is the story of Mary Herries, a wealthy British woman who takes pity on a starving artist, Henry Abbott (Rathbone), his wife, and baby and take them in. Her home and life are soon taken over by Abbott and his gang, and Mary is a prisoner in her own home while she is gradually robbed.

Somehow, with a younger Mary and Henry, this film has a different and better dynamic, although the denouement in the 1951 film is more interesting than the ending here. Here, Mary still has the possibility of romance in her life, and though it isn't explored (or, given the class distinctions, probably not even a thought), there is some chemistry in the beginning between Mary and the debonair, dashing Rathbone.

Aline MacMahon, normally in character roles, is excellent as Mary, a formal though generous and honest woman who cares for the less fortunate. Rathbone is dastardly and smooth as silk as Henry, whose aggressiveness becomes apparent almost immediately as he pressures Mary into buying one of his ugly paintings.

This version is a little less cruel in its treatment of poor Mary, who seems to have the freedom to move around; in the '51 version, she doesn't, and Henry actually does her portrait.

Both films are very good, as it's a strong story, but the '51 comes out as slightly superior. I did love this cast, though.

Compelling drama with fine performance by Aline MacMahon...

[Doylenf · 7/10 · 19 March 2009]

ALINE MacMAHON and BASIL RATHBONE star in this early screen version of KIND LADY, given a remake in the 1950s, from a stage play.

MacMahon is the kindly woman who lives alone in a large house surrounded by handsome and expensive artifacts. On Christmas Eve, she gives a man shelter. The man (Rathbone) turns out to be a scam artist who doesn't fool the hired help but makes a complete fool out of MacMahon, soon ushering in all of his gang members and threatening to kill MacMahon if she doesn't cooperate with their schemes.

Extremely well done, with MacMahon giving one of her best screen performances in the title role. Rathbone is chilling as the intelligent thief intent on moving in and making a fortune by selling most of her possessions.

Interesting story gets fine treatment from the entire cast, including FRANK ALBERTSON as the nephew who suspects something is wrong, DUDLEY DIGGES and DONALD MEEK. MURRAY KINNELL, posing as the doctor, is smoothly villainous. So is Rathbone as the man behind the schemes.

Chilling and well worth watching.

Interesting to note that Edward Ward wrote the background score (composer for the 1943 "Phantom of the Opera"), which is given more prominence than usual in a film from this period and sets the tone for the Christmas setting at the story's start.

It really took me by surprise

[fsilva · 20 May 2003]

Before watching this movie I had never seen Aline MacMahon in such an important role, 'cos here she's the star of the picture and she really is great...she was such an actress!!! Her acting technique is so contemporary, her playing so sincere....she's lovely.

I must admit that I expected more of the film as whole, from its first half hour, but anyway it's a very good movie, it has an entertaining storyline and excellent performances all around, especially by miss MacMahon and Basil Rathbone, and such a talented large supporting cast! (Dudley Digges, Eily Malyon, Frank Albertson, etc.)

MacMahon plays the endearing Miss Herries, the extremely `kind' and single society lady of the title, who lives alone in her big house in London, surrounded by beautiful objects, who learns the hard way, that one has to be careful of being so kind and generous, in a world like ours..Basil Rathbone's character really deceived me at first, because I had no knowledge of the film's plot whatsoever, so I won't tell you more.

This is a `B' picture, but for sure much more entertaining and fulfilling than many other A pictures of the period..and it has a surprisingly short running time: 76 minutes...but many things happen in such a short period of time!

Gang of Grifters

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 16 November 2018]

I suspect that most film fans are familiar with Ethel Barrymore's portrayal of the rich spinster woman whose house is taken over by a gang of grifters. This earlier version with Aline McMahon in the title role is not that often shown. That is a pity because McMahon is just wonderful in the role. It also apparently set a pattern for her playing woman older than herself.

In the tradition of no good deed goes unpunished McMahon finds a starving a pitiful artist on the doorstep of her London townhouse. That is Basil Rathbone who presents such a pitiful figure that she takes him in. Pretty soon he's got himself a wife and baby there and gradually takes over the running of the house. A whole bunch of others move in to take over the various servant positions including Dudley Digges, Murray Kinnell, Eily Malyon, Justine Chase, and Barbara Shields.

It's alluded to, but never rightly said that this group has worked this game before of systematically looting a place and then moving on. We know that these people are not above murder to achieve their ends.

The women of the group are a low class group of scavengers, the men however Rathbone, Digges, and Kinnell exude an air of menace in their performances. They've really covered all bases, keeping McMahon a prisoner in her own home with no contact with the outside world. To the outside world the story was given out that she had gone to America.

Sometimes a film like this even with no unearthly creatures in the story can step over into the horror film genre. This is what Kind Lady does, these grifters are not lovable con artists, they are more frightening than any kind of ghoul because they are real.

Fans of Aline McMahon and Basil Rathbone should catch this one.

Definitely one to watch

[racliff · 7/10 · 19 December 2010]

I enjoy watching a lot of older movies. Most suspense films that have caught my eye are in part comedies. This one has an intensity that I seldom see in this period. The other reviews have done a super job of describing the performers, so no more here.

The story is so well done that it is almost painful to experience -- the feelings are .. don't do that .. how can they treat her the way they do .. why isn't someone helping .. etc, etc. Whether you will be able to 'enjoy' this production, may be part of your own preference, but everyone that has selected movies to watch from this period needs to watch this one.

Almost the exact same movie as the 1951 remake

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 7 November 2006]

This is a great example of an original film and its remake being nearly identical. Perhaps the remake is a tiny bit better, but they are just so close that if you've seen one, there's no reason to see both.

Both are extremely frightening movies--more so than many "horror films" because the terror is more believable and threatening. It all starts when a nice rich lady helps out a supposedly nice guy down on his luck (Basil Rathbone). Soon, Rathbone's entire family is living in the woman's home and the doctor advises the sick wife and baby stay there until they are able to be moved. However, after a few days, it becomes apparent that they are NOT ill and the family is milking the woman's kindness for all its worth. When she tries to throw them out, the family refuses and have replaced the servants with a band of thieves who terrorize and bleed the woman of her money! It's all very tough to watch, as the people are so evil and cruel and you really get pulled into her nightmare. However, for lovers of suspense films, it's an excellent picture. Just be warned that it is pretty intense stuff--definitely not a film for the kids!

Boo, hiss, Basil!

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 23 October 2018]

That's for his character, not his performance, superb and mesmerizing as always, along with the pitiful Aline MacMahon as his trusting victim. Actually, Ethel Barrymore was far more trusting, less cynical, and probably more believable simply as far as age was concerned. MacMahon, fresh from Warner Brothers where she played mostly sad but wise women, is not a gray haired old spinster, but still falls prey to Rathbone's treachery here as he takes advantage of her pitying nature. Several visits (always ending with MacMahon seemingly catching onto Rathbone's scheme) have her under his thumb, with an ailing wife and baby, as well as the cockney Dudley Digges and Eily Malyon, who basically terrify her into submission and drug her in an effort to walk off with her fortune.

This is a delightful old style barnstormer, the kind of gothic melodrama that was extremely popular for the first half of the 20th Century yet now seems hopelessly dated. The MGM gloss is present even with B unit director George B. Seitz in the director's chair. Rathbone's delightfully urbane performance is beautifully calculating, with MacMahon getting a glorious prediction and the last laugh after he thinks he's gotten the last word in. Digges and Malyon are perfectly hateful, making the idea of their comeuppance a hopeful emotion while watching this.

Diug the old dame!

[ctomvelu1 · 6/10 · 6 September 2010]

What an odd little movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Plot-rich but very stagey, almost as if it might have originally been a play, KIND LADY tells the story of a wealthy woman (McMahon) who takes in a starving artist (Rathbone) and his wife and daughter. Soon enough,she finds the artist is no artist, but a grifter with an extended family of grifters who soon move in on her. What they are after is her extensive collection of paintings, which are worth a fortune. The bogus artist and his crew hold the old lady captive, and only an 11th-hour intervention by a suspicious relative saves the day. A young Rathbone is suitably sinister and suave as the head of this pack of thieves and cutthroats, and McMahon is thoroughly convincing as the wealthy old woman who is much too generous. The marvelous character actor Dudley Digges plays Rathbone's main confederate. There is a doctor among this group of thugs, but it is never explained why he is part of the group. A little back story couldn't have hurt, like maybe he was peddling drugs and lost his license to practice medicine. Also, Rathbone is so elegant, one has to wonder why he has thrown in with this mostly ragtag lot, other than to assume these are the best people he could find to aid and abet him with his scam. Or perhaps he just acts and looks elegant, and is as sleazy as the rest of the crew when not working one of his deals. Who knows? A real curio with a top-notch cast, perfect for lovers of creaky old melodramas..

Basil Rathbone in deliciously wicked form

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 9 March 2014]

1935's "Kind Lady" may be held in less regard than its 1951 remake, but comes off better by casting Aline MacMahon and Basil Rathbone in the leads, both younger and more effective than Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans. The widowed Mary Herries still pines for the husband she lost during the Great War, and meets impoverished artist Henry Abbott in front of her door on Christmas Eve, inviting him in for a short visit. She banishes any thoughts of romance with the suave handsome stranger upon learning he has a wife and child, and resolves never to see him again. She sadly fails to reckon with his persistence however, enabling him to move in his family and 'friends,' driving all but the maid (Nola Luxford) out of the house, filled with valuable paintings and artifacts, now targeted by Abbott and his despicable entourage. Dependable players such as Murray Kinnell (as the murderous doctor), Dudley Digges, Frank Reicher, E. E. Clive, and Donald Meek make a terrific ensemble, as Mary feigns illness in seeking to regain the upper hand, an uphill struggle without outside help. Having debuted opposite Edward G. Robinson and Boris Karloff in 1931's "Five Star Final," Aline MacMahon enjoys one of her few starring roles, while Rathbone was only solidifying the villainous reputation he so richly deserved, until Sherlock Holmes succeeded in making audiences forget how deliciously wicked he could be (he'd already played Philo Vance in 1930's "The Bishop Murder Case").

"When the time comes to pay, you must pay."

[utgard14 · 6/10 · 12 September 2014]

Rich old maid Mary (Aline MacMahon) is a soft touch for beggars. On Christmas Eve, she invites one (Basil Rathbone) into her home and gives him some food. He leave but returns later with his wife and baby, tricking Mary into letting them stay. Soon he's invited more people to stay at Mary's home. Before she can have them thrown out, they've taken her prisoner.

Intriguing premise for a movie made in the '30s. It's hard to dislike anything with a cast that includes Aline MacMahon, Basil Rathbone, and Dudley Digges. It's even got Frank "Hee Haw" Albertson in it. So it's a good cast with a good story. Still, it feels a little flat. It's not a particularly gritty or suspenseful movie. Had it been made at Warner Bros around that time I imagine it would have had a little more edge to it. More than watchable, though. This was remade in 1951 but I haven't seen that one yet.

Rich lady falls victim to scam

[lindaalou · 8/10 · 14 June 2016]

Accidentally ran across this--awesome, with Aline MacMahon so good and gracious and Basil Rathbone at his skin-crawling best. I enjoyed the evil personalities of the confederates, too. No one seemed ready to help this lady but her courage won the day. This story takes place all inside the lady's house, outdoor scenes only by reference, so it did come across rather like a play than a movie.

Rather dated, of course, but a great little thriller to root for the "good guys". And, of course, I enjoyed the costumes and room decorations. I recognized "Mr Wiggs" at the very end. All the players were very convincing.

Quite a bit different from the superior 1951 remake

[jacobs-greenwood · 6/10 · 8 December 2016]

This thriller-drama features Aline MacMahon in the title role of Mary Herries, a generous wealthy war widow who's too trusting for her own good such that she's taken advantage of by an unscrupulous starving artist, Henry Abbott played by Basil Rathbone.

It was directed by George Seitz with a screenplay by Bernard Schubert that was based on an Edward Chodorov play from a Hugh Walpole story. The cast also includes Mary Carlisle, Frank Albertson, Dudley Digges, Doris Lloyd (also in the remake), Nola Luxford, Murray Kinnell, Eily Malyon, Justine Chase, and Donald Meek (among others).

Miss Herries lives alone in a comfortable urban town-home, appointed with valuable works of art she's collected over the years including an El Greco (and a Whistler) painting and some fine statuettes. She has a live-in housekeeper, Rose (Luxford), and a (never seen) cook who attend to her needs. But on Christmas eve, she takes pity on a sidewalk artist, Abbott, who refuses her coin for the sketch he's drawn and instead requests a cup of tea. It's snowing and he's cold, so she invites him in and asks Rose to give him something to eat, which she does reluctantly.

Mary then visits with her niece Phyllis (Carlisle) and soon-to-be American nephew-in-law Peter Santard (Albertson) in her livingroom. While thanking his hostess for her generosity, Henry meets Mary sister Mrs. Lucy Weston (Lloyd), who encourages her lonely sister Mary, whose husband dies 20 years previously in World War I, to show an interest in a man for a change. After her relatives leave, however, Mary learns that Henry has a wife and daughter. While she goes to get a coat to give to his wife, he pockets her jade cigarette case before he too departs. Rose is convinced that the "too good looking" Abbott stole Mary's case.

Some time later, Abbott returns to Mary's townhouse where he asks to show her some of his paintings. He returns the cigarette case but then begs her to buy one of his, admittedly awful attempts to paint art. She agrees but then tells him that she never wants to see him again. Abbott says that he'd brung his wife and that she'd wanted to thank Mary for the coat. He goes to the window and points to Ada (Chase) standing across the street, barely out of the pouring rain and holding her baby, at which time she collapses to the ground.

Mary tells Rose to hurry and go help Ada into the house while Abbott fetches a doctor (Kinnell). The doctor states that Ada needs rest and picks her up to carry her to a bedroom which, in the confusion, is provided vs. refused. But this was all a ruse, the doctor is in cahoots with Abbott, who proceeds to take up residence in Mary's house, where he also begins to take charge of any communications (e.g. mail) and everything else such that the (unseen) cook leaves. Rose plans to follow, especially after friends of Ada - Mr. (Digges) & Mrs. (Malyon) Edwards and their ill-behaved teenage daughter Aggie (Barbara Shields) and, eventually the doctor as well - become squatters in the home.

By the time Mary finally gets the courage to expel them from her residence, after Rose told her Ada's not sick, it's too late. Though she'd planned to close up the house and travel with Rose to America, unfortunately she finds herself under Abbott's control; the timing is such that this happens after Rose had communicated their plans to the local authorities, who then don't suspect anything when Mary and Rose (who is killed by the doctor; her body buried normally via a funeral, ostensibly paid for by Mary, that doesn't raise suspicions) are not seen and Abbott explains that he's keeping the home in order in their absence.

Mary is watched and kept in her room; her shutters are nailed shut. Abbott then begins to arrange for the sale of Mary's artwork, even though she refuses to sign over her power of attorney to him. When Paris art dealer Gustave Roubet (Frank Reigher aka Reicher) comes to call, Mary passes him a note (while Edwards and the doctor listen from the next room) which, due to her strange behavior, he then gives to Abbott. So it appears hopeless for Mary until, elsewhere, Phyllis and Peter are visiting with Lucy; they figure out that something must be amiss and Peter goes to investigate.

Peter meets with Abbott who explains that Mary is traveling and had asked him to store her things, but he's suspicious because Abbott doesn't know that one figurine had been promised to Phyllis and him as a wedding gift. He also learns that Mary wasn't issued a passport nor does her name appear on any of the ship's registers. However, he can't get the authorities to believe that Mary must still be somewhere (trapped) in the house, nor can the police figure out on what grounds they could issue a warrant to search the place.

Meanwhile, a banker named Mr. Foster (Meek) has been summoned by Abbott; he has a similar experience with 'crazy' Mary but believes her to be in danger because he's from the same bank where she's done her past business. Refusing to give up the note she'd passed him to Abbott, Foster finds himself trapped, prevented from escape by the others there. In his desperation, he picks the aforementioned statuette and throws it through a window at the same time that Peter, and the police he'd finally gotten high enough up in the chain of command to convince that Mary was in trouble, arrive to save the day. Christmas can be celebrated by all (but Rose) once again in Mary's home.

When a "kind lady" is being taken advantged

[jordondave-28085 · 4/10 · 18 October 2023]

(1935) Kind Lady DRAMA/ THRILLER/ SUSPENSE

Adapted from the play by Edward Chodorov and the from "The Silver Mask" by Hugh Walpole that has Aline MacMahon plays Mary, a wealthy unmarried heiress helps Henry Abbot played by Basil Rathbourne (an unusual role whose best known as Sherlock Holmes) while he was loitering around the street. As the film progresses is when things begin to unravel Abbot's actual intentions! The film is not bad, but very outdated since antagonists are much more sophisticated these days. You can say this is what they used to do back then. A much preferred movie is "The Heiress" from 1949. Remade again in 1951.

Christmas Eve notwithstanding, don't let that starving and freezing artist in your house!

[Art-22 · 8 November 1998]

An excellent thriller in which an artist tries to take over a woman's life to get the fabulous 10 paintings she owns, worth a fortune. Surprisingly, five years ago I saw the 1951 remake with Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans in the leads, but that in no way diminished my enjoyment of this film, despite my knowing the ending. I found Aline MacMahon a bit too young for the title role in this film, but I relished Basil Rathbone as the evil artist. He's such a convincing villain. Dudley Digges and Eily Malyon are also excellent as Rathbone's accomplices, although I wondered how such a cultured man as Rathbone got involved with these lowlifes. And why is Murray Kinnell, as the doctor also in cahoots with Rathbone, involved in such a nasty undertaking? He's a real doctor, as we find out after he murders the maid he catches trying to call the police; he fills out a death certificate. Doris Lloyd, playing a friend of MacMahon in this film played the maid, Rose, in the remake. The critics liked the remake better, but I felt both films are on par with each other. See both films and you decide.

Welcome Strangers

[lugonian · 6/10 · 31 December 2012]

KIND LADY (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935), directed by George B. Seitz, stars Aline MacMahon, a recent recruit from Warner Brothers, in an interesting role of a caring British spinster known for her acts of kindness who falls victim to a total stranger she meets on a cold snowy night. Based upon the play by Edward Chodorov that starred Grace George and Henry Daniell, and the story "The Silver Casket" by Hugh Walpole, it's one of those overlooked chilling suspense thrillers that could easily be mistaken for an Agatha Christie story or one directed by the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Considering this sort of material enacted, there's no shadow of a doubt this would have been much to his liking.

Opening on Christmas Eve, the story introduces Mary Herris (Aline MacMahon), a charitable woman living the lonely life in her mansion with her servants who quietly longs for a man named Richard who died years ago in the war. Leaving church after listening to a boys choir singing "Silent Night," Mary is approached by Henry Abbott (Basil Rathbone), an young artist who has rested his paintings in front of her home. Abbott, knowing about her acts of kindness through a homeless man (E.E.Clive), pleas on her sympathy by having her invite him into her home for a cup of tea. Though Mary finds this handsome young stranger an impressive and well educated gentleman, Rose (Nola Luxford), her housekeeper, finds he's not to be trusted. Told he has a wife and child, Mary offers Abbott both money and a coat as a friendly gesture for his spouse. As he leaves, she advises him not to return. Days later after meeting with her nephew, Peter (Frank Albertson) and his fiancé (Mary Carlisle), Mary is visited by Abbott again. This time he has come with the cigarette case he had stolen from her, and, in desperate need of financial support, talks the kind lady into buying one of his paintings. Seeing that his wife, Ada (Justine Chase) and baby, are awaiting him across the street in the pouring rain, Mary witnesses the frail woman fainting on the pavement while still clutching onto her infant. Having them brought into her home, Mary is advised by the doctor (Murray Kinnell), brought in by Abbott, to have the sickly woman remain under her care until her condition improves. Weeks pass. By then, Mary's servants have quit due to her guests and the visitation of their undesirable friends, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards (Dudley Digges and EIly Malyon) and their daughter, Aggie (Barbara Shields). Realizing her charitable work has reached its limit, Mary orders them from her house. Rather than a fond farewell or gathering by the fireplace singing Christmas songs, Abbott and his friends take control over Mary, who's now become a prisoner of her own home with no means of communication to the outside world.

For a movie that opens and closes on Christmas Eve, it's far from being an ordinary Christmas movie. Interestingly, though MGM produced subsequent suspense types as NIGHT MUST FALL (1937) and GASLIGHT (1944), to much success with Academy Award nominations to its credit, KIND LADY has become a somewhat obscure item. Years later when sold to commercial television, title was changed to HOUSE OF MENACE to avoid title conflicts with the 1951 MGM remake starring Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans. Broadcast revivals for this original have been scarce until revivals with restored theatrical title have appeared, along with its remake, on Turner Classic Movies after 1994. Although many regard the 1951 edition to be superior, what makes the original interesting is its leading players. Although title character might have or should have gone to the theater's Grace George, or British-born Dame May Witty, MacMahon, who might be labeled miscast, does a commendable job regardless. The unpleasant situation she endures from her house-guests is something that could happen to any trusting soul. Fear and terror come across believably through her fragile face, as does hope of being saved. There's no disagreement about Rathbone's sinister contribution to the cast. It's through his creepy performance that the story survives it's handicaps, notable ones being couple of sudden scene shifts and/or sudden blackouts causing unevenness towards the story that indicate initial print longer than the circulating 75 minutes.

Others members of the cast include Donald Meek (Mr. Lester of the Barkeley Bank); Frank Reicher (Gustave Roubet); and Doris Lloyd. Lloyd, seen as MacMahon's sister in the early portion of the story, also appeared in the 1951 MGM remake in a different role. As the cast and crew make every effort making this intense thriller believable in both theme and structure, leave it to the kind lady (MacMahon) to take the time and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. (**1/2)

No good deed goes unpunished

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 6 February 2023]

This thriller from MGM and director George B. Seitz involves a generous, wealthy woman (Aline MacMahon) who is taken advantage of by an impoverished artist (Basil Rathbone) and his gang of cohorts. Also featuring Frank Albertson, Dudley Digges, Mary Carlisle, Doris Lloyd, Murray Kinnell, and Donald Meek.

I watched the 1951 remake, starring Ethel Barrymore and Maurice Evans, sometime last year, and this version is much the same. MacMahon is an actress of this period that I like quite a bit, and she brings something different to the part than Barrymore did in the later film. Barrymore's age was seen as a factor in the villains' exploitation of her, while in this earlier version it's more a matter of MacMahon's fragile emotional state. Rathbone is good, as usual, as the cunning, slightly conflicted rogue.

art thieves move in...

[ksf-2 · 7/10 · 21 November 2018]

The awesome, oscar-nominated Aline McMahon, Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes!) and Donald Meek... he's always a fun character actor. Group of art thieves tries to take advantage of a rich old lady to steal her art collection. She falls for it until her maid clues her in, and then it all goes to hell. Will she ever get these horrible people out of her house ? Remade in 1951 with Ethel Barrymore, another MGM film. Pretty good. Directed by George Seitz.. .died quite young at 56. Cause of death not listed anywhere. he had directed a TON of the Andy Hardy films. Both versions show on Turner Classics now and then.

Kind Lady

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 14 February 2023]

This all starts with something really incongruous. Snowy scenes and a violin-led score that makes you think of some Capra-esque Christmas film about redemption and the sight of Basil Rathbone is a big thick coat! Something isn't right here! The eponymous lady - "Mrs. Herries" (Aline MacMahon) arrives at her home to encounter the homeless "Abbott" (Rathbone) doing some street art in the snow. She takes pity on this charming and unassuming gent, and asks him in for a cup of tea. Next thing we know, her cook has gone, her maid "Rose" (Nola Luxford) is threatening to leave and her house is now over-run by a rather menacing group of people who are content to live in her home and who clearly have far more nefarious intentions. They effectively imprison the woman and things look bleak. Only a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of her tenacious nephew "Peter" (Frank Albertson) who smells a rat. I don't suppose there is great deal of jeopardy here, but Rathbone is at his intimidating, most duplicitous, best and the supporting cast - especially Lily Malyon's "Mrs. Edwards" and Dudley Digges as her husband - work well to build up quite an effective sense of tension over the last hour or so of this drama. It is certainly not what I was expecting - or what the title suggests, and is certainly worth a watch.

This ironically-titled heads up alert to the snobs warns the so-called . . .

[oscaralbert · 8/10 · 28 December 2020]

. . . "Monied Class" of what's in store for them soon. By any stretch of the imagination, can Mary H. be exalted as a KIND LADY? Is it kind to squat like a spider alone in an otherwise empty mansion, surrounded only by a handful of obsequious wage-slaves and walls full of over-priced "artworks," each representing ten times the combined lifetime earnings of her "household staff"? Is it a kind thought that this miserly money hoarder has certainly never done an honest day's work during her leech-like existence, yet she's somehow entitled to lord it over the 99 per center Working Class--which is forced to live (collectively) on LESS than the combined wealth of Mary's Fat Cat One Per Center ilk of resource monopolists? The sole kind turn here is deluded core supporter Rose's lethal injection, insuring that her class traitor genetic defects will not be passed along to subsequent generations. It's only treasonous peasants such as Rose that allow schemers like Mary to remain atop their pernicious pyramids of loot!

Film less than kind to viewer

[jelinek-20124 · 4/10 · 19 December 2023]

This movie did not turn out to be what I expected -- a heartwarming story of generosity of the heart and spirit. Instead, it was a horrendous film about taking advantage of kind-hearted woman who just wants to be left alone to enjoy some solitude.

What is supposed to be the moral of this one? My guess: it doesn't pay to be kind to strangers. They'll only take advantage of such kindness, robbing you blind while administering emotional torture.

Wow, this one sure does convince its viewer of the soundness of believing in humanity, NOT!!

I only thought to watch this one because of my fondness for actress Aline MacMahon. I thought it would be fun to see her in a starring role, not just supporting, but this one is bad regardless of her presence.

I'm dumbfounded to discover that this story was revisited in 1951. There's nothing enjoyable about seeing someone being manipulated and taken advantage of for a kind gesture.

What a luxury...

[marcslope · 20 March 2003]

...to see Aline MacMahon, the great character actress, in a lead role. As a tender benefactress who unwisely invites a suave beggar (Basil Rathbone) into her gracious home on Christmas Eve, she effortlessly plays beyond her years and even suggests an inner life--you can see her past regrets, her essential goodness, and her cunning, all in her eyes. The rest of this ungainly comedy-suspense melodrama, adapted from a musty stage play, is boilerplate and frequently illogical; the compressed "stage time" is overused to skirt plot implausibilities, the ending is rushed, and leave it to the callow American (Frank Albertson) to get the dumb Brits out of their scrape, MGM-style. Hitchcock could have made the material work, and George B. Seitz is decidedly not Hitchcock. But it's a handsome programmer, told economically, with two great cinematic supporting players being given unusual chances to strut their stuff.

Decent Thriller

[Michael_Elliott · 12 September 2009]

Kind Lady (1935)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent drama has a kind, rich recluse (Aline MacMahon) inviting a stranger (Basil Rathbone) into her home. Everything starts off fine but soon the stranger takes the woman hostage and invites his strange "friends" into the house. This is an extremely bizarre little film that has been outlived by the 1951 remake but this film here manages to be quite effective even though the directing is highly lacking. The biggest problem with the film is its rather timid direction, which really doesn't deliver a very good pace or enough tension. The tension is one thing that's really lacking and it's a shame because the story itself is so good as are the performances. Rathbone clearly steals the film as the maniac who has to come off so charming to get into the house and then slowly lose it as the more psychotic side comes out. Rathbone never gets enough credit for being such a good character actor, which is a real shame because most people just remember him as Sherlock Holmes. While he was masterful in that role, he did just as impressive work outside of it. The snake like charm makes this a must see for fans of his. MacMahan also delivers a great performance as she perfectly fits the role and the kindness she does display is quite touching yet she also brings a naive touch that makes it easy to understand why someone could take advantage of her. Mary Carlisle, Frank Albertson and Nola Luxford add nice support. Donald Meeks has a brief role as well. In the end, due to the great performances, you can't help but feel a bit letdown that the final film isn't as great as the cast but there's still enough here to make this one worth seeing at least once.