The Man in Possession 1931
Directed by
Sam Wood
Made by
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Man in Possession Plot Summary
Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for The Man in Possession (1931). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Raymond Dabney returns to a mixed reaction from his upper-middle-class family in London after serving a sentence at HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs for stealing a motorcar. His Mr. Dabney and his Claude Dabney are uneasy: his father is particularly disappointed in him, having sent him to Cambridge, and Claude worries about bringing scandal on the family, especially since he is engaged to a wealthy widow. They offer Raymond £500 to leave the country and never return. He declines and departs that same day.
He takes a job as a sheriff’s officer, aiding a bailiff to serve a writ on Crystal Wetherby, a woman in serious debt, taking possession of her property. The bailiff instructs him to remain in Crystal’s mansion to keep an eye on the seized property until the next day, but also to provide any reasonable assistance to the woman. Crystal and her sole remaining servant, Clara, have him take the place of the departed butler.
Crystal mentions her fiancé, none other than Claude Dabney. Claude is bringing his parents to dinner that night to meet her. The situation is awkward for all the Dabneys. Meanwhile, Crystal’s admirer, the wealthy and generous (if disreputable) Sir Charles Cartwright, shows up. Crystal has carefully kept the news of her engagement from him. She manages to get the jealous man to leave without him meeting her dinner guests. Before Claude leaves, he informs Crystal that her butler has a crooked past (without revealing they are brothers), but she refuses to discharge him (without revealing he is actually in possession of the premises). To complicate matters even further, that night Raymond Dabney seduces Crystal.
The next morning, the breakfast is prepared for Crystal in bed, though Clara insists on delivering it herself. When Crystal lifts the cover, the bacon is arranged to spell the word “LOVE.” Clara picks up Crystal’s undergarments scattered around the room, noting that her chemise is torn. Crystal does not correct Clara’s incredulous assumption that it was Claude who ripped it.
The afternoon unfolds as Raymond proceeds to undermine Crystal’s other relationships. When Sir Charles Cartwright returns, he learns of Crystal’s engagement, prompting him to tear up a £1000 check he was about to give her. Claude Dabney, anxious to preserve the engagement, offers his brother £1000 to leave England forever; Raymond insists on being paid an additional £200 for immediate expenses. Then Raymond shows Claude the writ, proving Crystal is not the wealthy woman she pretends to be. Panic-stricken, Claude urges Raymond to reveal to Crystal that they are brothers so the engagement can be broken off without a suit for breach of promise, and he hastily departs. Sir Charles Cartwright returns, having discovered that his love for Crystal is still strong, but she declines his proposal of marriage.
When the bailiff arrives, Raymond pays off the outstanding debt, collects his wages, and informs Crystal that they can be married on the ship taking them to a fresh start in a new country. She reminds him of her past, but he remains undeterred. The two share a quiet, hopeful embrace as they set out toward a hopeful future together.
The Man in Possession Timeline
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Return to London and mixed family reaction
Raymond Dabney returns to London after serving a sentence at Wormwood Scrubs for stealing a motorcar. His mother and the family servant greet him warmly, while his father and brother Claude receive him with wary restraint. The father, who had once sent Raymond to Cambridge, is particularly disappointed, and Claude is anxious to avoid scandal since he is engaged to a wealthy widow. The family offers him £500 to leave the country, but Raymond refuses and leaves the same day.
Becomes sheriff's officer and guards seized property
He secures work as a sheriff's officer and helps a bailiff serve a writ on Crystal Wetherby, a woman in serious debt, taking possession of her property. The bailiff instructs him to remain in Crystal's mansion to watch the seized goods until the next day, while also offering reasonable assistance to the woman. Crystal and her sole remaining servant, Clara, have him stand in for the departed butler.
Dinner plans expose family tension and warnings
Crystal reveals that Claude Dabney is her fiancé and is bringing his parents to dinner that night. Claude informs Crystal that her butler has a crooked past, but he does not reveal that they are brothers. Crystal refuses to discharge the butler, insisting on keeping him in place. Sir Charles Cartwright arrives, and Crystal has kept the news of the engagement from him, managing to send him away without meeting the dinner guests.
Raymond seduces Crystal
That night Raymond seduces a willing Crystal, complicating their already fraught relationship. The seduction tightens Raymond's control over the household and heightens the tension among the Dabneys. Crystal's feelings become more tangled as their schemes unfold.
Breakfast in bed reveals clues
The next morning, Raymond prepares Crystal's breakfast in bed, though Clara insists on delivering it. When Crystal lifts the cover, the bacon is arranged to spell 'LOVE'. Clara notices Crystal's torn chemise and, suspecting Claude, says nothing about it. Crystal remains silent, letting Clara's assumption go unchallenged.
Raymond sabotages relationships and unsettles Sir Charles
Raymond sabotages Crystal's other relationships by informing Sir Charles of her engagement, causing the generous man to tear up the £1,000 check he planned to give her. The revelation unsettles Crystal's social circle and raises the stakes of the engagement. Raymond's manipulation shows his growing intention to control Crystal's life.
Claude offers to leave England for money
Claude offers Raymond £1,000 to quit England for good in order to spare the family further scandal. Raymond responds by demanding an additional £200 for immediate expenses before he will depart. The negotiation reveals the depth of their entanglement and Raymond's rising resolve.
Writ exposed; brothers' secret becomes a tool
Raymond produces the writ, proving Crystal is not the wealthy woman she pretends to be. Claude panics and urges Raymond to reveal to Crystal that they are brothers in order to break off the engagement, then hurries away. The plan now depends on Crystal's response to the revealed truth.
Sir Charles returns; Crystal declines
Sir Charles Cartwright returns, confessing that his love for Crystal remains strong. Crystal declines his marriage proposal, choosing to remain with Raymond and not pursue the social match he represents.
Bailiff arrives; plans for a new start
The bailiff arrives to settle Crystal's debts; Raymond pays off the outstanding amount and collects his wages. He and Crystal discuss a fresh start on a ship bound for a new country, where they could marry away from scrutiny. Crystal, aware of her past but resolute, embraces Raymond as they prepare for departure.
The Man in Possession Characters
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Raymond Dabney (Robert Montgomery)
A recently released ex-con who uses charm and calculated moves to control Crystal and derail others' relationships. He is unscrupulous, opportunistic, and relentlessly pragmatic, treating people as tools to secure his second chance in life. He engineers the 'LOVE' breakfast message and the ship-bound escape to cement his hold over Crystal.
Crystal Wetherby (Irene Purcell)
A debtor living in a mansion who tries to protect her interests while navigating a web of engagements and rivalries. She is pragmatic and guarded, careful not to reveal her true finances or her engagement to Claude. Her interactions with Raymond expose her vulnerability to manipulation, yet she remains resourceful enough to confront threats.
Sir Charles Cartwright (Alan Mowbray)
A wealthy, generous, and somewhat disreputable acquaintance who falls for Crystal. He is charming and passionate but compromised by jealousy, particularly when faced with Crystal's engagements and Raymond's interference. His willingness to invest in Crystal's future is tested by manipulations around love and money.
Claude Dabney (Reginald Owen)
Crystal's fiancé who is anxious about scandal and status. He collaborates with family pressure and attempts to sever Crystal's alliance when faced with truth, yet also shrewdly uses deceit to protect his own position. He is a broker of family reputation and a facilitator of the manipulation around Crystal's finances.
Mr. Dabney (C. Aubrey Smith)
The patriarch who judges his son's actions and seeks to preserve the family’s social standing. He offers money to buy Raymond's departure and shows a stern, practical, but ultimately hopeful attitude toward healing the rift. He embodies the pressure of class and respectability.
Mrs. Dabney (Beryl Mercer)
The mother who greets Raymond warmly, representing familial forgiveness and the allure of reunion. She supports the family’s decisions in front of outsiders and values harmony over stern judgment. She embodies the social niceties that underlie a careful, reputationally sensitive household.
Clara (Charlotte Greenwood)
Crystal's loyal servant who steps into the role of the departed butler. She observes the strange interplay of romance and deceit and quietly notes the clues, such as Crystal's torn chemise. She provides practical help and remains a grounded, perceptive presence in the tense household.
Bailiff (Forrester Harvey)
The bailiff tasked with serving a writ and managing the seized property. He represents the legal authority behind the debt and the pressure to resolve it. His presence marks an enforcing hand in the struggle over Crystal's fortunes.
The Man in Possession Settings
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Location
London, Crystal's Mansion, HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs
The narrative primarily unfolds in London, where Raymond returns to his upper-middle-class family after prison. Crystal's mansion serves as the central arena for social maneuvering, debt, and romantic entanglements. Wormwood Scrubs is referenced as the place of Raymond's past punishment, underscoring the stigma he carries and the need to keep a lid on scandal.
The Man in Possession Themes
Discover the main themes in The Man in Possession (1931). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
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Deception
Raymond's calculated schemes drive the plot: he manipulates romance, exploits secrets, and steers events to secure his future. His lies are wrapped in charm and obligation, making trust brittle. The consequences reveal how appearances can hide motive and how easily people can be misled.
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Reputation
The Dabney family navigates a social climate where scandal can ruin status. The threat of breach of promise and financial fallout forces characters to protect appearances over honesty. Wealth and class act as shields that influence decisions and relationships.
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Love
Romance collides with manipulation as Crystal's engagement and Sir Charles's affection clash with Raymond's seduction. Love is used as leverage, testing loyalties and forcing hard choices. The ending hints that authentic feeling may survive deception, despite the schemes.
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Power
Money and social influence drive the actions of all players. Raymond wields debt and prospects of flight to steer Crystal and Claude toward his plan. The attempt to marry and flee demonstrates how control operates through financial leverage and reputation.
The Man in Possession Spoiler-Free Summary
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In post‑war London, the polished world of upper‑middle‑class families collides with the gritty undercurrents of debt and desperation. Grand townhouses sit behind iron gates, yet inside the air hums with whispered anxieties about reputation, inheritance, and the lengths people will go to protect both. The film’s tone balances dry, genteel comedy with a subtly edged drama, inviting the viewer to watch the uneasy dance of propriety and survival.
Raymond Dabney arrives back from a stint behind bars, carrying the weight of a family that once sent him to Cambridge and now views his return with a mixture of disappointment and cautious generosity. Though his lineage hints at future promise, he takes a modest position as a sheriff’s officer, tasked with safeguarding the possessions of those whose fortunes have faltered. His quiet dignity and understated humor make him both an outsider and a reluctant bridge between two very different worlds.
Crystal Wetherby inhabits the splendid, debt‑laden mansion where the story’s central tension blossoms. A once‑wealthy heiress now wrestling with mounting obligations, she is determined to secure a prosperous marriage that will restore her standing. Her engagement to Claude Dabney, Raymond’s brother, adds a layer of familial intrigue, while the charismatic yet disreputable Sir Charles Cartwright circles as a potential benefactor. Within the household, the loyal servant Clara maintains the rhythm of daily life, observing the subtle power shifts with sharp insight.
The convergence of these characters creates a lively tableau of competing motives. The sheriff’s officer’s presence, mandated to oversee the family’s assets, intersects with the heiress’s schemes, setting the stage for a battle of wits and wills. Against the backdrop of stately rooms and restrained elegance, the film teases the audience with the promise of unexpected alliances, hidden histories, and the fragile balance between duty and desire.
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