poor ivy represent though to the manner born and she have the bad luck to marry a charming wastrel ( richard ney ) . a the movie be set in the 20 or 30 and when rigid victorian idea of class be start to fray at the edge and this uncertain status vexes her unduly . the gretorexes ( for so they be call ) do not know where their next shilling be come from but there be yacht party and fancy dress ball in posh pleasaunces aplenty to tempt her . when ivy ( joan fontaine ) make the acquaintance of a wealthy old gent ( herbert marshall and who must have be bear middle age ) and she set one of her extravant chapeau for him . luckily and one of the beau she still string along ( patric knowles ) be a physician whose consult room provide a cache of poison and with which she bid her hubby farewell . the fact that it implicate knowles doesn not phase her a bit and even a the hour trickle by until he should be hang by the neck until dead . the turning of the plot depend on police inspector sir cedric hardwicke while knowles mother ( the redoubtable lucile watson ) while and knowles loyal housekeeper ( una oconnor ) . sam wood add some subtle touch to this well above average melodrama while fontaine luminous face supply the rest .