Please Believe Me 1950
Directed by
Norman Taurog
Made by
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Please Believe Me Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Please Believe Me (1950). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Alison Kirbe is a young London girl who has just learned she inherited a Texas ranch from an old soldier she befriended during World War II. She boards a transatlantic voyage convinced she now commands a small empire, and she carries that dream across the ocean toward a land that could redefine her life.
On the ship, she meets Terence Keath, a fellow passenger deeply in debt to casino owner Lucky Reilly. To settle his debts, Terence schemes to marry into wealth and immediately targets Alison, believing she is a rich heiress. Another ardent admirer enters the scene in the form of Jeremy Taylor, a carefree millionaire bachelor who travels with his sharp attorney Matthew Kinston. Both men are drawn to Alison’s charm, and she feels the attention but resists.
Throughout the voyage, Alison enjoys the attention from the trio but rejects them all. She finds herself most drawn to [Matthew Kinston], yet he confronts her, convinced she is part of some scheme. To counter his suspicions, she borrows money from Terence and buys an extravagant gift for [Jeremy Taylor], all while continuing the illusion of being a wealthy heiress.
After landing in America, Alison decides to spend a week in New York before heading to Texas. Meanwhile, [Matthew Kinston] begins digging for more information about the ranch, wary of a potential deception and intent on uncovering the truth behind the inheritance.
A casino confrontation brings matters to a head: Matthew confronts Alison as she gambles with Terence and Jeremy. He apologizes soon after, and the moment culminates in a kiss. The two men who witness it are stunned to realize she has chosen a penniless attorney over them.
The following day, Matthew learns that the ranch may not be worth much, renewing his earlier suspicion that there is more than meets the eye. Alison bursts into tears, frustrated that his skepticism has framed an honest inheritance as a possible swindle.
That night, Alison learns of Terence’s precarious finances and offers to help by paying off his debts. Yet Jeremy steps in to cover the entire debt, relieving Terence’s burden. The trio rushes to a hotel where all three men propose to Alison at once. In the end, she enthusiastically accepts Matthew’s proposal, and the other two men, momentarily stunned, quickly move on to pursue other women.
Please Believe Me Timeline
Follow the complete movie timeline of Please Believe Me (1950) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Inheritance revealed and voyage begins
Alison Kirbe learns she has inherited a Texas ranch from an old soldier friend she befriended in World War II. Believing she now has a share of a small empire, she decides to cross the Atlantic to claim or explore her new fortune. The news prompts her departure from London and a hopeful journey across the ocean.
Crossing paths with suitors on the ship
On the transatlantic voyage to America, Alison meets Terence Keath, who is heavily in debt to casino owner Lucky Reilly, and she encounters two other wealthy men, Jeremy Taylor and his attorney Matthew Kinston. The attention from these men makes her feel desired, though she remains wary. The dynamic hints at competing motives around her presumed fortune.
Rejection and attraction
Although she enjoys the attention, Alison rejects all three men as she senses their motives. She feels a particular pull toward Matthew, but he misreads her intentions and suspects she is playing a scheme. The social tension aboard grows as flirtations deepen into misunderstandings.
Impostor heiress act
To test or hurt Matthew, Alison borrows money from Terence and buys an extravagant present for Jeremy, all while posing as a wealthy heiress. The ruse heightens the drama between her and the men and sets up later revelations. The deception marks a turning point in how the others perceive her.
Arrival and decision to stay in New York
After landing in America, Alison decides to linger in New York for a week before continuing to Texas, hoping to tie up loose ends with the ranch. Matthew begins to investigate the ranch’s true value, growing suspicious of a possible scheme. The stage is set for a confrontation between truth and illusion.
Casino confrontation begins
Matthew confronts Alison at a casino where she is gambling alongside Terence and Jeremy. He apologizes later, and their tension loosens as they share a kiss, signaling a possible shift in their relationship. The scene reveals a clash between old suspicions and renewed attraction.
Kiss and shock
Terence and Jeremy witness the kiss between Alison and Matthew and are surprised that she prefers a penniless attorney over them. The moment challenges the social expectations of wealth and romance on the ship-to-shore arc. It deepens the romantic tension between Alison and Matthew.
Ranch value exposed
The following day, Matthew discovers that Alison's Texas ranch is not worth much, and he accuses her again of swindling Jeremy. The revelation intensifies the emotional conflict and tests Alison's explanations and integrity. The trust between Alison and Matthew hangs in the balance.
Emotional outburst
Overwhelmed by the misunderstanding, Alison bursts into tears and resents Matthew for turning an honest inheritance into a presumed scheme. Her frustration is directed at his suspicion and the growing pressure from the other men. The scene highlights the fragility of trust under financial and romantic strain.
Attempted debt bailout
Alison discovers Terence's precarious finances and attempts to help by offering to pay off his debts with Lucky Reilly’s money, hoping to shield him from ruin. The gesture showcases her caring nature, even as the truth about the ranch remains murky. Jeremy’s willingness to cover the debts comes into play soon after.
Debt resolved and proposals
Jeremy steps forward to cover the entire debt, rendering Alison’s bailout moot. The three men rush to the hotel to propose to Alison, each trying to win her hand in a comedic but heartfelt moment. The scene marks a pivotal turning point from deception to open-hearted choice.
Final choice and engagement with Matthew
Alison accepts Matthew’s proposal, choosing the penniless attorney over the other suitors. The two remaining men quickly move on, flirting with other women as Alison begins a new life with Matthew. The moment resolves the love triangle with a sincere commitment.
Please Believe Me Characters
Explore all characters from Please Believe Me (1950). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Alison Kirbe (Deborah Kerr)
A young London girl who unexpectedly inherits a Texas ranch from a wartime friend. She is initially naive about the true value of wealth and is drawn to attention from several men, testing her judgment and heart. Her arc centers on choosing authentic affection over a staged image of riches.
Terence Keath (Robert Walker)
A fellow passenger in debt to casino owner Lucky Reilly. He uses Alison's assumed wealth to lure interest and manage his finances, revealing a pragmatic but self-serving side. His pursuit of money creates tension and compels Alison to confront appearances versus reality.
Jeremy Taylor (Peter Lawford)
A wealthy, lightsome bachelor who is attracted to Alison and joins the other suitors. He embodies social status and generosity, eventually showing willingness to support Alison's cause. His presence highlights the lure of money and privilege in romantic choices.
Matthew Kinston (Mark Stevens)
A penniless attorney who distinguishes himself with honesty and steady resolve. He initially suspects Alison of deceit but grows closer after a sincere kiss and mutual trust develops. He becomes the more grounded counterpart to the other men vying for Alison.
Lucky Reilly (J. Carrol Naish)
A casino owner whose financial leverage drives Terence's debt and shapes the social landscape aboard the ship. He embodies wealth and power, offering a contrast to the more romantic pursuits and revealing the transactional nature of some relationships.
Please Believe Me Settings
Learn where and when Please Believe Me (1950) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
Late 1940s
The events unfold in the years after World War II, a period of rebuilding and cross-continental movement. Alison's inheritance from a wartime friend ties the narrative to a recent war memory and the immediate postwar social landscape. The story uses a transatlantic crossing and a New York–Texas itinerary to place it squarely in the postwar era.
Location
London, Atlantic Ocean, New York, Texas
The story begins in London, a cosmopolitan hub that sends Alison on a transatlantic voyage. New York serves as a social crossroads where she meets influential men and navigates early flirtations. The Texas ranch she inherits anchors the central twist of the plot, embodying postwar American ambition. The journey from metropolitan England to the American West frames the tale with contrasting settings.
Please Believe Me Themes
Discover the main themes in Please Believe Me (1950). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Romance
Romantic interest drives the plot as Alison encounters multiple suitors: a penniless attorney, a debt-ridden gambler, and a wealthy bachelor. The film explores how attraction can be tested by wealth, deceit, and personal integrity. The evolving relationships reveal Alison's desires, loyalties, and willingness to choose genuine connection over social advantage.
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Deception
Alison's presentation as a wealthy heiress creates a veneer of wealth that draws competitors and complicates trust. Each character negotiates appearances versus reality, leading to misunderstandings and dramatic revelations. The narrative uses deception to test who respects her for who she is.
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Wealth vs Authenticity
The inheritance promises financial power, but the film questions whether wealth guarantees happiness or honesty. Characters maneuver around money, with love and loyalty often outweighing monetary value. The resolution emphasizes choosing genuine affection over ostentatious appearances.
Please Believe Me Spoiler-Free Summary
Discover the spoiler-free summary of Please Believe Me (1950). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In an era when a single letter can rewrite a life, a modest London clerk discovers she has inherited a sprawling Texas ranch once owned by a wartime acquaintance. The news propels her across the Atlantic, thrusting her from fog‑filled streets and tea houses into the glittering decks of an ocean liner bound for a land of open horizons. The journey itself feels like a gentle collision of two worlds: the reserved, measured charm of England meets the bold, sun‑baked promise of the American West, setting a tone that blends light‑hearted romance with the excitement of a fresh start.
Alison Kirbe arrives aboard the ship with a head full of inherited dreams, eager to claim a future that feels both astonishing and absurd. She carries a quiet confidence tempered by the uncertainty of a legacy she never expected, and her curiosity about the life awaiting her in Texas makes every encounter on board feel charged with possibility. The film’s atmosphere swirls with breezy humor and a genuine sense of wonder, inviting the audience to share in her anticipation and the subtle pull of adventure.
Soon, Terence Keath appears, a smooth‑talking gambler whose fortunes have run thin, and who sees Alison’s newfound wealth as a tempting escape from his debts to the notorious casino proprietor, Lucky Reilly. At the same time, Jeremy Taylor, a carefree millionaire bachelor, travels with his sharp‑witted attorney, Matthew Kinston, each drawn to Alison’s allure for their own reasons. While the gambler hopes to secure a profitable marriage, the bachelor seeks a genuine connection, and the attorney watches the heiress with measured suspicion, questioning whether she might be chasing a mirage.
The ensuing romance unfolds against the backdrop of rolling ocean waves and the promise of a distant ranch, where every glance, conversation, and whispered promise hints at both the innocence of first love and the subtle games of desire. The film balances witty banter with tender moments, leaving viewers eager to see which path the hopeful newcomer will follow once the ship docks and the true expanse of Texas opens before her.
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