Kind Lady (1935)

In the heart of an opulent world lives Mary Herries, a woman of considerable wealth known for her charitable spirit. Returning home from a Christmas Eve concert, her path crosses with Henry Abbott, a struggling artist, frail from the cold, standing outside her grand estate. Compelled by compassion, Mary offers him refuge and discovers an unexpected allure in this handsome, art-savvy stranger. However, her intrigue is tainted by the revelation that Henry is burdened with a wife and child he can barely sustain. Acting in her usual philanthropic manner, she bestows him with money and second-hand items, hoping to alleviate his plight. Henry's gratitude, though, manifests oddly – returning days later with mediocre art and possessions stolen from Mary's estate. Under the veil of desperation, he coerces her into buying his substandard paintings. The intrigue turns to shock when Henry's visibly exhausted wife and child, abandoned in the rain, surface. Touched by their predicament, Mary permits them temporary shelter but soon realizes the price of her kindness. Her loyal servants, depleted by the ungrateful guests, resign, leaving Mary with the demanding, insatiable family. Her solitude is short-lived with the arrival of Henry's extended 'family.' Much to her terror, these unwelcome guests are not relatives but a ruthless gang of art thieves. Their malicious intent? To imprison Mary within the gilded cage of her own mansion, seizing her treasured art collection. In this chilling narrative, Kind Lady (1935) explores the line where compassion becomes vulnerability in the face of calculated deception.

Kind Lady is a crime movie featuring Aline MacMahon and directed by George B. Seitz.

Kind Lady is currently streaming on TCM.