James Mason portrays the self-indulgent and rather cold "Marquis of Rohan," who sets his sights on the innocent “Clarissa” (Phyllis Calvert) with a specific goal: to have her bear his child. Affection or sentimentality isn't part of the equation; he simply requires an heir. Having been raised alongside "Hester" (Margaret Lockwood), Clarissa later encounters her performing onstage and invites her to reside in her grand London home. Her husband, who visits infrequently, approves of this arrangement, believing it will provide him with a companion, but Hester’s ambition quickly escalates beyond mistress status; she now desires the title itself. Enter "Rokeby" (Stewart Granger), a principled man capable of recognizing Hester's calculating nature, and we have a story set in a specific era where characters are motivated by their own agendas, unfolding over roughly 90 minutes. Mason’s appearances are limited; it is primarily the two women who propel the narrative forward, and for the most part they perform adequately, though the film occasionally drags. Certain concluding moments have remained memorable since I initially viewed this movie four decades ago, and they continue to be quite unsettling. The film reflects its era, and some aspects of the portrayals and situations may feel dated after 80 years, but it offers a more developed storyline than many similar dramas and is deserving of viewing.

Source on TMDB