The plot follows relatively closely to that of the book, although the film highly condenses Steerforth's liaison with Emily and the Peggotty family to primarily off-screen action, as in the 1935 version, and omitting the famous "tempest" scene.
The plot mirrors the book closely but reduces Steerforth's involvement with Emily and the Peggotty family to off-screen scenes, as seen in the 1935 version, and excludes the famous "tempest" scene.