Deborah Dainton (Samantha Eggar) is an insecure and uptight young professional woman who works as an assistant at a London auction house. Deborah uses a walking stick because one of her legs is slightly deformed after a childhood bout with polio.
Still living with her parents, Deborah watches her gregarious sisters engage in romantic exploits, but feels resigned to a loveless existence. When she’s dragged to a party one evening, Deborah is approached by confident but self-deprecating artist Leigh Hartley (David Hemmings), who asks for a date and won’t take no for an answer.
Eventually, Deborah’s resistance weakens, and romance blooms. She moves into Leigh’s dingy flat, and he persuades her to walk without the aid of her stick.
Eventually, Leigh reveals that he’s been asked by criminal acquaintances to get information from Deborah about the security at the auction house to assist him and his mates with a planned robbery. This forces Deborah to question whether Leigh’s feelings are sincere or whether he has been using her all along.
The film is slow-moving but beautifully shot, and Eggar and Hemmings are magnificent.
Leigh Hartley
David Hemmings Deborah Dainton
Samantha Eggar Jack Foil
Emlyn Williams Erica Dainton
Phyllis Calvert Douglas Dainton
Ferdy Mayne Arabella Dainton
Francesca Annis Sarah Dainton
Bridget Turner Ted Sandymount
Dudley Sutton Bertie Irons
John Woodvine David Talbot
David Savile Mrs Hartley
Gwen Cherrell Mr Maitland
Walter Horsbrugh Inspector Malcolm
Basil Henson Lewis Maud
Anthony Nicholls Mrs Stevenson
Nan Munro Max
Donald Sumpter Benjy
David Griffin Deborah as a child
Susan Payne
Eventually, Deborah’s resistance weakens, and romance blooms. She moves into Leigh’s dingy flat, and he persuades her to walk without the aid of her stick.
