Regina needs money to invest in a business with her brothers. Her husband Horace refuses. Regina's nephew Leo steals negotiable bonds from Horace's bank to give the brothers, and when Reginia tries to blackmail them Horace claims the money was a gift. Furious, Regina withholds Horace's medication knowing he will die without it. Horace dead, she forces her brothers to give her two-thirds of their business. Her daughter knows what has happened and leaves her.
This is a film adaptation of the Lillian Hellman play of the same title. In a post-Civil War southern community there is nothing more important than money and power to Regina Giddens (Bette Davis.) In fact, she will stop at nothing to have them. In order to join her equally ruthless brothers in a scheme that is sure to gain her wealth and power she uses her young, na?ve daughter to fetch her estranged, ailing husband who is living elsewhere. When she cannot convince her husband to give her the money, she sets forward a cunning plan; which escalates to the ultimate price once she realizes her brothers intend to swindle her as well.
