What Is The Devil to Pay! About?
The premise of The Devil to Pay! in 398 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
Returning to London society with empty pockets but a full reservoir of charm, Willie Hale embodies the spirit of a reckless adventurer who has long lived by his own rules. Fresh from East Africa where he managed to deplete his fortune, he arrives home to face the scrutiny of his wealthy father, Lord Leland Hale. The elder Hale is weary of his son’s string of failed ventures, yet the bond between them remains tinged with an indulgent affection that Willie seems to endlessly test. It is a world of privilege and expectation, where one’s worth is often measured in lineage and bank notes, and Willie’s return disrupts the calm with a carefree attitude that defies the seriousness of his financial ruin.
Into this delicate social balance steps Dorothy Hope, an heiress whose future seems mapped out by her father, the linoleum-magnate Mr. Hope. He has arranged for her engagement to a Russian aristocrat, Grand Duke Paul, viewing the match as a sensible merger of status and wealth. However, Willie’s easygoing nature and unpredictable zest for life offer a stark contrast to the rigid formality of her planned future. As Willie’s path crosses with Dorothy’s, the tension between duty and desire begins to surface, threatening to upend the careful plans laid by their elders and turning the heads of those who prefer a life less ordinary.
The film unfolds as a light-hearted romp through the drawing rooms and social gatherings of the era, capturing the sparkle of a man who refuses to take life too seriously. While Willie’s past romantic entanglements linger in the background—most notably with the famed theatre star Mary Crayle—his focus shifts to navigating the sharp disapproval of Dorothy’s protective father. It is a story defined by witty repartee and social maneuvering, where the stakes are personal and the consequences of a charmed life begin to weigh heavily on those who orbit around Willie’s orbit.
As Willie’s charisma clashes with Mr. Hope’s pragmatism, the question of whether a charming rogue can find his place within the strictures of polite society takes center stage. With fortunes at stake and hearts in the balance, the narrative explores just how far a “gay dog” can run before reality intervenes. The stage is set for a battle of wits and wills, where the ultimate prize might be the freedom to choose one’s own happiness against a backdrop of societal expectations.
What Happens in The Devil to Pay!?
The complete story of The Devil to Pay!, from the first scene to the last, in 539 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 7 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Willie Hale, Ronald Colman returns home from East Africa with little money left, after selling his house and belongings, and buys a dog with most of what he has. His father, Lord Leland Hale, Frederick Kerr a very wealthy man, is tired of Willie’s string of failed ventures but still slips him £100 to spend while keeping a wary eye on his son’s next move.
Back in England, Willie crosses paths with his former flame, Mary Crayle, Myrna Loy, a famed theatre star, and meets the family friend and heiress Dorothy Hope, Loretta Young. He invites Dorothy and his sister Susan Hale, Florence Britton, to join him for a day at the Derby. It’s there that Willie rides a 50-to-1 longshot and wins a substantial amount of money, a turn of luck that unsettles the social balance around him. Dorothy, impressed by his newfound charm and the prospect of a brighter future, ends her engagement with Grand Duke Paul, Paul Cavanagh, because Willie’s easygoing, reckless appeal feels more alive to her.
Willie isn’t eager to rush into romance, but Dorothy’s father, Mr. Hope, David Torrence, makes his disapproval clear and threatens to disinherit her if she marries Willie. Seizing an opportunity, Willie proposes, and Dorothy accepts on one condition: he must never see Mary again. The burden of keeping Mary in the dark weighs on him, and he cannot bring himself to tell her in writing or by a call. He waits outside the theater, hoping for a chance to speak to Mary in person, while Mr. Hope secretly drafts a plan to keep tabs on Willie by hiring a detective agency to follow him.
Dorothy orchestrates a tense telephone meeting—Mary is rung and Willie answers—so Dorothy can see whether Willie’s loyalties still lie with her or with Mary. Dorothy’s heart breaks when she realizes Willie’s life has not been entirely about her fortune or status. Yet she refuses to let him walk away quietly and chooses to test his intentions by offering him a substantial amount of money—£5,000—hoping he would take it as a sign he’s chasing inheritance. Willie accepts the money briefly but does not plan to keep it; instead, when he learns that Paul is destitute, he quietly sends the money to Paul in Dorothy’s name, a gesture that both surprises Paul and unsettles Dorothy’s father.
Paul’s gratitude arrives as a note to Dorothy, which delights her but unsettles Mr. Hope as he contemplates what this financial misdirection means for his own control over his daughter. The relationship between Willie and Dorothy undergoes a tentative reconciliation before Willie sails for New Zealand to start a sheep farm, seeking a fresh horizon away from the old pressures of English society.
Back home, Dorothy’s father contemplates a different future for Willie, offering to buy him a farm in England. Lord Leland Hale watches the developments with a measured smile, knowing that Mr. Hope’s money could be at stake if Willie ever stumbles again, a risk the old lord seems oddly pleased to witness. In the end, the two lovers find a path that blends affection with practicality, and the question of money—and who finally controls it—hangs over their plans as they move toward an uncertain but hopeful horizon.
The Devil to Pay! Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Sale in East Africa and return to England” to “Father offers to buy a farm; Leeland’s satisfaction”. 13 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Sale in East Africa and return to England
Willie Hale sells his house and belongings in East Africa and returns to England with little money left. He buys a dog with what remains, signaling a turn toward unstable ventures. Lord Leeland, though wealthy, reluctantly gives him £100 for spending money, highlighting the parental strain over Willie's failures.
Where:East Africa
- 2
Reunion with Mary Crayle
Willie runs into his old girlfriend, Mary Crayle, the theatre star, reigniting a complicated past romance. The reunion foreshadows the emotional entanglements that Willie's fortune and social ambitions will bring. The encounter keeps Mary in the orbit of his increasingly unstable life.
Where:England
- 3
Meeting Dorothy Hope and Derby invitation
Willie meets Dorothy Hope, a wealthy family friend and heiress, and introduces her to his sister Susan. He then takes Dorothy and Susan to the Derby, presenting them with a social outing that hints at a growing alliance. The Derby serves as a turning point where Willie's luck begins to change.
Where:Derby, England
- 4
Derby windfall on a 50-to-1 longshot
During the Derby, Willie bets on a 50-to-1 longshot and wins a substantial amount of money. The windfall elevates his status and feeds Dorothy's interest in him. The victory also sets up the tension between his charm and his mounting debts.
Where:Derby, England
- 5
Dorothy breaks engagement to Grand Duke Paul
Dorothy ends her engagement to Grand Duke Paul because she finds Willie more appealing, even though he is financially ruined. The break-up marks a turn from social duty to personal attachment. It leaves Willie in a precarious position with both Mary and Dorothy.
Where:England
- 6
Willie proposes to Dorothy to avoid disinheritance
Willie proposes to Dorothy after her father warns that he will disinherit her if she marries Willie. Dorothy accepts, but on one condition: Willie must promise never to see Mary again. The arrangement ties his future to a tricky choice between love and loyalty.
Where:England
- 7
Willie waits outside Mary’s theatre
Willie cannot deliver the news of his engagement to Mary by letter or telephone, so he waits outside Mary's theatre to tell her in person. This moment crystallizes the stakes of his dilemma and his hesitation to sever their bond. It sets the stage for Dorothy's manipulations to play out.
Where:Mary's theatre
- 8
Detective watch and the Mary phone call
Mr. Hope hires a detective agency to monitor Willie. Dorothy arranges for Mary to be reached by telephone, and when Willie answers, Dorothy is heartbroken, realizing that his engagement is real. Willie tries to explain, but the deception deepens the emotional rift.
Where:England
- 9
Dorothy pays Willie £5,000
Dorothy pays Willie £5,000, assuming he was simply after her inheritance. He leaves with the check, whistling, but he does not intend to keep the money. This gesture exposes the start of a broader generosity that will influence his actions later.
Where:England
- 10
Willie sends money to Paul through Dorothy
After learning that Paul is destitute, Willie sends the money to Paul under Dorothy's name to help him. The act reflects Willie's reluctance to profit from the situation while still offering aid to a friend in need.
Where:England
Show the other 3 events of The Devil to Pay! Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Paul thanks Dorothy; father is disillusioned
Paul sends a note to Dorothy thanking her, which delights Dorothy and disillusions her father. The gesture underscores the complex web of loyalties and the father’s skepticism about Willie.
Where:England
- 12
Reconciliation before sailing to New Zealand
Willie and Dorothy reconcile their relationship, acknowledging their feelings despite the earlier complications. They prepare to part ways as Willie sails for New Zealand to start a sheep farm.
Where:England
- 13
Father offers to buy a farm; Leeland’s satisfaction
Dorothy's father proposes to buy Willie a farm in England, hoping to provide stability. Lord Leeland is pleased that it will be Mr. Hope's money at stake if Willie fails again, underscoring the volatility of Willie's fortunes and the father's complicated views on merit.
Where:England
Who Are the Main Characters in The Devil to Pay!?
7 characters, among them Willie Hale (Ronald Colman), Mary Crayle (Myrna Loy) and Dorothy Hope (Loretta Young): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- WH
Willie Hale (Ronald Colman)
Played by Ronald Colman
An ambitious, good-humored dreamer who returns from East Africa with little money but big plans. He navigates love and money with charm and a stubborn sense of fairness. Although prone to risky ventures, he remains loyal and generous, often choosing others’ welfare over his own short-term gain.
- 💼 Wealth
- 🧭 Ambition
- 💖 Romance
-
Mary Crayle (Myrna Loy)
Played by Myrna Loy
A theatre star and Willie’s old flame, whose wit and vanity drive some of the plot’s misunderstandings. She is drawn to Willie yet wary of the financial and romantic entanglements he embodies. Her loyalties and affections shift as money and promises come into play.
- 🎭 Theatre
- 💖 Romance
- 🧭 Loyalty
-
Dorothy Hope (Loretta Young)
Played by Loretta Young
An heiress torn between duty and love, she wields her fortune to test Willie and protect her own future. She breaks with Grand Duke Paul to choose Willie, then negotiates her terms before reconciling with him. Her choices reveal the pressure of social expectations on romance.
- 👑 Heiress
- 💔 Romantic Choice
- 🏛️ Society
- GD
Grand Duke Paul (Paul Cavanagh)
Played by Paul Cavanagh
Dorothy’s former fiancé, a nobleman whose social status could not shield him from financial trouble. His betrothal ends when Dorothy falls for Willie, leaving him destitute and a peripheral figure in the couple’s fortunes. His fate underscores the era’s rigid class expectations.
- 👑 Aristocrat
- 💸 Destitute
- 🎭 Drama
- LL
Lord Leland Hale (Frederick Kerr)
Played by Frederick Kerr
Willie’s wealthy and influential father who fears his son’s failures may jeopardize the family fortune. He funds the family lapses but disapproves of Willie's romantic entanglements, leaning toward control and respectability. His stance frames the conflict between money, status, and personal happiness.
- 🪙 Wealth
- 👑 Status
- 🧭 Authority
- MH
Mr. Hope (David Torrence)
Played by David Torrence
Dorothy’s father, a stern patriarch who wields money and power to control his daughter’s life. He hires a detective agency to monitor Willie and threatens disinheritance to enforce his wishes. His insistence on propriety drives one of the central tensions of the plot.
- 💼 Patriarchy
- 💵 Money
- 🗣️ Authority
- SH
Susan Hale (Florence Britton)
Played by Florence Britton
Willie’s sister, a practical observer of family machinations. She supports her brother as he navigates the consequences of his choices and keeps the family connected through changing fortunes.
- 👯 Family
- 🧠 Insight
- 💪 Support
Where and When Is The Devil to Pay! Set?
The Devil to Pay! is set in East Africa, England and Derby. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
East Africa, England, Derby
Willie travels from East Africa back to England, returning to his wealthy family. The action also ventures into England’s social scene, culminating in the Derby horse race that marks a turning point in fortunes. East Africa provides the backdrop for Willie’s exile and his subsequent reinvention in family and romance.
- 🌍 East Africa
- 🏰 England
- 🐎 Derby
What Are the Themes of The Devil to Pay!?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love & Money, Fortune and Sacrifice.
-
01
Love & Money
Romance collides with money in The Devil to Pay! Willie’s pursuit of Dorothy against the memory of Mary pits love against wealth. Dorothy uses her inheritance to test Willie's loyalty, insisting he sever ties with Mary. The outcome hinges on how money shapes affection, trust, and the willingness to choose between lovers.
-
02
Fortune
Fortune rises and falls through betting, bets, and clever generosity. Willie wins at the Derby longshot, turning a precarious fortune into opportunity. The money moves through Dorothy, Paul, and Willie in a web of obligation and expectation. The theme shows that luck can alter power dynamics, but character integrity ultimately guides actions.
-
03
Sacrifice
Willie repeatedly chooses others’ welfare over his own desires. He quietly sends money to Paul under Dorothy’s name, hoping to relieve destitution rather than claim admiration. His actions show a readiness to sacrifice romance for family and friends. The finale—sailing to New Zealand to start a sheep farm—cements a life built on pragmatic generosity rather than personal glory.
What Kind of Film Is The Devil to Pay!?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A cheerful and fast-paced romantic comedy where a charming spendthrift navigates misunderstandings and romantic rivalry, culminating in a happy reconciliation.
- charming
- lighthearted
- romantic
- comedic
- optimistic
- whimsical
- romantic comedy
- social class
- family conflict
- inheritance
