What Is All This, and Heaven Too About?
The premise of All This, and Heaven Too in 273 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the glittering yet precarious world of mid‑nineteenth‑century Paris, a fragile peace holds together the opulent courts of King Louis‑Philippe. Within this gilded setting, Henriette Deluzy‑Desportes arrives from a modest background, summoned to the household of the powerful Duc de Praslin as governess to his four children. The elegance of the Praslin mansion is matched only by the undercurrents of ambition and restraint that swirl through its salons, creating a stage where reputation is both currency and burden.
The Duchesse de Praslin immediately views the newcomer with suspicion, her moods shifting between cold distance and sharp resentment. While duty binds the couple together for the sake of their offspring, their marriage feels more like a negotiated truce than a partnership, leaving ample space for whispered doubts and private yearning. As Henriette settles into her role, her quiet competence and genuine affection for the children begin to illuminate the household, subtly shifting the balance of affection and allegiance.
Against a backdrop of aristocratic etiquette and the looming uncertainty of a waning monarchy, the film cultivates a tone of restrained tension, where every smile may conceal a motive and every glance hints at unspoken longing. The era’s sumptuous costumes and meticulously crafted interiors amplify the sense of an almost theatrical world, while the delicate interplay between Henriette, the Duc, and the Duchesse promises a narrative driven as much by internal desires as by the grand social forces that shape their lives. The story invites the audience to linger in this elegant yet volatile realm, feeling the weight of expectations and the fragile hope of a woman striving to define herself amidst whispers and watchful eyes.
What Happens in All This, and Heaven Too?
The complete story of All This, and Heaven Too, from the first scene to the last, in 760 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Mademoiselle Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, a French woman, arrives in a new world of teaching and reputation when she begins her work at an American girls’ school.Faced with the gossip and rumors that flutter around her life, she chooses to turn the lens inward and tell the story of her own past. This decision marks the frame of a coming‑of‑age tale wrapped in social stakes, where personal dignity collides with public scandal. The film follows her as she revisits memories that shaped a courtroom and a heart, all while the present moment in the classroom keeps turning the pages of her lecture into a genuine confession.
She becomes the governess to the four children of the Duc de Praslin and Duchesse de Praslin in Paris, during the closing years of the Orleans monarchy. The household is a study in contrasts: a privileged life shadowed by a volatile marriage. The Duchess’s erratic moods create a climate of unease, and though the Duc remains at her side out of duty to their children, the atmosphere is a fragile compromise rather than a true partnership. In this delicate balancing act, the governess’s warmth and steadiness begin to weave a quiet bond with the children and, unexpectedly, with the husband who protects them from the storm around him.
As [Henriette Deluzy-Desportes] settles into her role, she quietly earns the affection of the children and the father with her genuine kindness and a soft strength that lights up the rooms of the Praslin home. Yet her presence also stirs a dangerous mix of jealousy and insecurity in the Duchess, whose resentment translates into mob‑like whispers that seem to follow Henriette wherever she goes. The Duchess refuses to provide a letter of recommendation when Henriette must leave, and the marriage frays even more. The mother’s spite escalates into a manipulation of perceptions—she fabricates letters that misrepresent intentions and loyalties—effectively turning a personal quarrel into a public indictment. The tension crescendos as the Duc confronts the crisis, and in a bitter moment born of fear, he kills his wife.
The situation is complicated by the politics of a noble court. As a peer, the Duc’s fate would be decided by a narrow circle of nobles, where confession could be used to pin blame not on himself alone but on the woman who supposedly urged him toward it. He refuses to confess or openly proclaim any passionate motive that might salvage or condemn him, understanding that an admission of love for his employee could be the very thing that ruins Henriette’s life. In a final, desperate act to avoid public judgment and to protect the woman he once sheltered, he chooses poison over a public confrontation. Even as he sinks, he reveals a truth to a loyal servant, Pierre, who had warned Henriette to leave the household: the man’s love for Henriette was real, even if it could not be spoken aloud.
With the Duc’s death, the authorities find themselves at a dead end—there is no solid evidence that Henriette solicited the murder, and she is released from the Conciergerie. The social machinery that once turned on her now gives way to a fragile vindication, shaped as much by circumstance as by the weight of truth. Henriette had been recommended for a teaching position “in the land of the free” by an American minister, Rev. Henry Field, who has seen the resilience behind her story. The possibility of a new life lies ahead as Field proposes marriage, signaling a hopeful turn toward a future where past judgments might finally loosen their grip.
The narrative unfolds as a meditation on reputation, power, and the courage to tell one’s own story. In the classroom, Henriette finds a space to reclaim agency, while the memory of Paris’s gilded salons lingers as a reminder of how easily a life can be reconstructed—or shattered—by the gossip of others. The film invites us to witness not only a dramatic arc of love and loss but also a more intimate reckoning: a woman who seeks mercy and a future, and a man who chooses truth over peril, all set against a backdrop where social codes and personal loyalties collide with devastating consequence. The final suggestion is not merely a verdict on a murder, but a quiet, hopeful note that a life can still move forward, even after the most public of judgments.
Note: The names of the principal players appear in the narrative with links to their pages on the site:
All This, and Heaven Too Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Henriette begins teaching at an American girls' school” to “Field proposes marriage”. 10 events name a place, across 3 locations.
- 1
Henriette begins teaching at an American girls' school
Deluzy-Desportes starts teaching at an American girls' school, marking a new chapter in her life. The position places her in a public, cross-cultural setting that will intersect with upper-class Parisian society. This assignment frames the narrative that follows.
- 2
Gossip prompts her to tell her life story
Deluzy-Desportes is confronted by tales and gossip circulating among the pupils. Provoked by these rumors, she decides to tell them her life story, turning the school into an unintended audience for her personal history. The frame narrative sets up the movie's retrospective approach.
- 3
Becomes governess to the Praslin children
In Paris, she becomes the governess to the four children of the Duc and Duchesse de Praslin during the last years of the Orleans monarchy. Her warmth then begins to win the affection of the children and separately, the father. The Duchess's erratic temper foreshadows the fragile balance in the household.
When:last years of the Orleans monarchy Where:Paris
- 4
Henriette earns affection of the children and the Duke
Deluzy-Desportes captures the love and trust of the children and the Duc with her warmth and kindness. She becomes a beloved presence in the household, even as the Duchess grows resentful. The family dynamics become a flashpoint for looming tragedy.
Where:Paris
- 5
The Duchess blocks her future with a refused recommendation
The Duchess refuses to give Henriette a letter of recommendation to future employers, effectively trying to block her from leaving the household. This act emphasizes the Duchess's control and the precariousness of Henriette's position. The power imbalance fuels tension within the domestic sphere.
Where:Paris
- 6
The Duchess fabricates counterfeit letters
The Duchess invents alternative letters taking opposite attitudes, which, in fact, she has not written and does not intend to write. The deception weaponizes handwriting and authority against Henriette. The false documents escalate the conflict to a breaking point.
Where:Paris
- 7
The breaking point and the Duchess's murder
At the breaking point, the Duke kills the Duchess, a crime that stems from a tangled mix of love, jealousy, and fear of scandal. The murder is set within the ducal residence and shatters the protective veneer of the family. The act becomes the pivot that will determine Henriette's fate.
Where:Paris
- 8
The Duke refuses to confess; drinks poison
The Duke refuses to confess his guilt or openly admit his love for Henriette, knowing that such an admission could condemn her. To avoid public blame, he consumes poison, a final act that also preserves her reputation in theory. He survives long enough to reveal his truth to a servant named Pierre.
Where:Paris
- 9
Pierre is warned and Henriette is exonerated
Pierre, a kindly old servant who warned Henriette to leave, learns of the Duke's confession and helps ensure there is no solid evidence that Henriette solicited the murder. With no evidence to charge her, the authorities release Deluzy-Desportes from confinement. The case effectively clears her of responsibility in the Duchess's death.
Where:Conciergerie
- 10
Release from the Conciergerie
Following the lack of evidence, Henriette is released from the Conciergerie and freed from legal jeopardy. The judicial system recognizes that there is no basis to convict her. The events shift from personal tragedy to a new, uncertain future.
Where:Conciergerie
- 11
Recommendation to teach in America
An American minister, Rev. Henry Field, had recommended Henriette for a teaching position in the United States, offering a path to a fresh start. Field had heard her distress and loss of faith while she was imprisoned, and his support signals a potential new life. The narrative now points toward the country she will come to call the land of the free.
Where:America
- 12
Field proposes marriage
Field returns to propose marriage to Henriette, indicating his ongoing care and interest. The story implies that Henriette will accept his proposal, offering a hopeful ending. The frame closes with the promise of a new life beyond the tragedy she endured.
Where:America
Who Are the Main Characters in All This, and Heaven Too?
6 characters, among them Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (Bette Davis), Duc de Praslin (Charles Boyer) and Duchesse de Praslin (Barbara O'Neil): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
-
Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (Bette Davis)
Played by Bette Davis
French governess whose warmth wins the affection of the Praslin children and their father. She becomes the target of vicious gossip fed by the Duchess and the court. Her integrity and grace are tested as the murder investigation unfolds.
- 🇫🇷 French
- 🧭 Governess
- 💖 Compassionate
-
Duc de Praslin (Charles Boyer)
Played by Charles Boyer
Privileged aristocrat torn between love for Henriette and his social duties. He confronts his wife, an act that contributes to the tragedy that follows. He refuses to publicly acknowledge his feelings and ultimately poisons himself to avoid a public confession, leaving the case unresolved.
- 👑 Noble
- 🗣️ Reserved
- DD
Duchesse de Praslin (Barbara O'Neil)
Played by Barbara O'Neil
Temperamental, jealous wife who stirs jealousy and schemes to control the family's narrative. She withholds support and invents letters to manipulate others, fueling the conflict and social ruin around Henriette.
- 👑 Noblewoman
- 🗣️ Manipulative
- P
Pierre
Played by Harry Davenport
Kindly old servant who warns Henriette to leave the Praslin household and later reveals crucial truths about the letters and the case. He serves as a moral counterpoint to the courtly intrigue surrounding the family.
- 🗝️ Confidant
- 🧭 Wise elder
- L
Louise
Played by Virginia Weidler
One of the Praslin children whom Henriette soothes with warmth and care. Her presence highlights the human cost of the estrangement and social machinations around the family.
- 👧 Child
- 🧡 Loved by Henriette
- I
Isabelle
Played by June Lockhart
Another child under Henriette's care, representing innocence amid the household turmoil. Her interactions with the governess emphasize the nurturing role Henriette plays.
- 👧 Child
- 💡 Innocence
Where and When Is All This, and Heaven Too Set?
All This, and Heaven Too is set in Paris, France and United States (1830s-1840s (late Orleans monarchy)). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1830s-1840s (late Orleans monarchy)
Set in the waning years of the Orleans monarchy, a period of political tension and opulent yet strict social norms. Parisian society is governed by reputation and hierarchy, where personal desires must contend with public perception. The narrative centers on a murder within a privileged circle and the ensuing questions of truth, loyalty, and justice.
Where
Paris, France, United States
The story moves between an American girls school in the United States and the aristocratic milieu of Paris, France. Paris is depicted as glamorous yet rigid, where social gossip and class expectations shape the fates of those involved. The Parisian court and the Praslin household provide the backdrop for love, jealousy, and political tension during the late Orleans monarchy.
- 🏫 American school
- 🇫🇷 Paris setting
What Are the Themes of All This, and Heaven Too?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love vs Duty, Society & Reputation and Justice & Ambiguity.
-
01
Love vs Duty
Henriette's warmth toward the children and her relationship with the Duke illustrate how private affection can clash with social obligations. The story probes the cost of pursuing love within a rigid aristocratic code. Tensions between personal desire and public propriety drive the central drama, testing characters' loyalties and choices.
-
02
Society & Reputation
Gossip and perception become powerful forces that shape destinies, with rumors and forged letters influencing the court’s view of Henriette. The Duchess manipulates narratives to protect her status, while others are judged by fragile reputations. The film critiques how class privilege can shield the guilty and condemn the innocent.
-
03
Justice & Ambiguity
The murder case hinges on evidence rather than confession, highlighting how truth in court can depend on circumstance. Henriette’s fate rests on the absence of conclusive proof, not on a clear demonstration of guilt. The story questions whether justice can prevail when power and prejudice obscure facts.
-
04
Truth vs Rumor
The plot pits factual truth against the narratives people want to believe. Rumor spreads quickly through royal circles and the wider society, shaping how events are interpreted. The film asks whether truth can outpace reputation in a world dominated by appearances.
What Kind of Film Is All This, and Heaven Too?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A dark and steadily paced romantic tragedy that unfolds within the oppressive atmosphere of a volatile aristocratic household, building intense emotional tension towards a devastating crime and a bittersweet, hard-won redemption.
- melancholic
- tense
- oppressive
- tragic
- romantic
- claustrophobic
- forbidden romance
- class conflict
- marital breakdown
- reputation and scandal
Content notes: murder, suicide, domestic abuse, emotional manipulation.
Quiz
How well do you remember All This, and Heaven Too? Test yourself on the story.
