Set in turn of the century England, the wealthy and eccentric head of Ravenscroft Manor,
Mr. Ravenscroft, ( Peter O"Toole ), a raging, alcoholic professor of linguistics at Oxford,
has disappeared in a very strange way.
But, even before this can be thoroughly investigated, another bizarre development
occurs.
Seen only in partial, dreamlike, flashback glimpses, this brutal, inciting incident shows the
violent descent of a body falling down a magnificent staircase.
At the bottom of the staircase lies Patrick Roarke, the Manor's handsome, but
unfortunately, quite dead footman. As we look up to the top of the stairway, we see
something lurking in the shadows. A brief glance reveals a silhouette slipping away from
our sight, too obscure to be distinguished.
This sets the stage for...
Inspector Hatcher ( Martin Dejdar ), a Bohemian Policeman working for Scotland Yard.
Hatcher must interrogate the various women of the house. Each has a completely different
account of the incident and each sheds guilt on the others. All the women are sensuous
and beautiful in their own way, and each view the circumstances quite differently. They
are:
Mrs. Ravenscroft ( Greta Scacchi ) - Beautiful, mysterious, and subtly seductive, she is the
Queen of the castle. Recently (under its own puzzling circumstances) widowed, she is
intriguing and evasive. Her explanations change as often as her wardrobe.
Charlotte Kleiner ( Gabrielle Anwar ) The elegant and demure governess who only
recently was hired to work at Ravenscroft Manor. Her countenance is all tranquility and
innocence, but why did she suddenly leave her last post? How well did she know Patrick?
What does she have to hide?
Gillian Ravenscroft ( Laura Harris ) - The beguiling, precocious, 17 year old daughter of
Mrs. Ravenscroft, is either extremely brilliant with a vivid imagination or a complete
lunatic. Or a sociopathic killer.
Mrs. French ( Edie McClurg ) - Nothing delicate about this cook. She is massively strong
and wields a mean meat cleaver. She has been there so long, she seems immortal, and
knows nearly every secret of the house. But will she talk?
Dolly ( Fay Masterson ) - The pathetically inept scullery maid is cute and quirky. She
seems to be playing without a full deck - or is this just a ruse to hide the truth?
Sexual habits, violent tempers, and clandestine relationships all add to the complexity of
the crime.
Hatcher must use all his guile and tact to come to the inevitable, but unthinkable
conclusion to the bizarre circumstances.
