What Is This Is My Love About?
The premise of This Is My Love in 296 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a modest diner where the coffee is always hot and the tension is even hotter, Vida Dove navigates a life defined by compromise and lingering regret. She shares both the business and her home with her younger sister, Evelyn Myer, and Evelyn’s husband, Murray Myer. The arrangement is far from peaceful; Murray, once Vida’s lover, married her sister only to be left crippled and embittered by a car accident, turning the household into a minefield of emotional barbs and petty cruelties.
Murray’s constant belittling wears on Vida, painting her as a spinster desperate for a way out. His jealousy acts as a suffocating presence, flaring up at the slightest provocation and keeping the sisters walking on eggshells. Vida finds herself trapped between familial obligation and a desperate yearning for personal happiness, tethered to a man who harbors deep resentment toward her and the world at large.
The arrival of Glenn Harris, a charming customer, stirs the stagnant air of the diner. Glenn represents a potential future for Vida—an escape from the drudgery she has endured for so long. Yet, the lines of attraction blur dangerously when it becomes clear that Glenn’s attention is not solely focused on her, drawing her sister Evelyn into a new, silent battleground. As the sisters circle the same man, the fragile equilibrium of their home begins to fracture, threatening to resurrect old rivalries.
With long-buried emotions resurfacing and Murray’s oppressive behavior escalating, the household spirals toward a breaking point. The desperation to claim a new life or protect a burgeoning romance drives the characters toward a precipice. As loyalties shift and jealousy curdles into something darker, the story explores how far someone might go to secure their own happiness, and the devastating cost of tangled hearts in a confined world.
What Happens in This Is My Love?
The complete story of This Is My Love, from the first scene to the last, in 261 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Vida Dove lives with her younger sister Evelyn Myer and her brother-in-law Murray Myer, who runs the diner they share. A former lover of Vida’s, Murray fell for his wife’s sister, married her, and then was crippled by a car crash. Since the accident he has grown bitter, petty, and cruel toward Vida, constantly calling her a spinster and pressuring her to marry and move out.
Vida does have a boyfriend, Eddie Collins, but she isn’t truly enthusiastic about him. Everything shifts when Eddie brings his handsome friend Glenn Harris to the diner. Glenn asks Vida out, yet she soon learns that he is also attracted to Evelyn.
Murray’s jealousy spills into bursts of rage and sharp accusations whenever Vida or Evelyn returns home late. Vida is overjoyed when Glenn asks her on a second date, but she is devastated to discover that Evelyn put him up to it, simply to fool her husband. Vida cannot believe her sister would attempt to steal a man she loves for the second time.
At home, Vida takes sleeping pills and neglects Murray, who slips into convulsions. The next morning she finds him dead. A police investigation reveals that Murray received a fatal injection of poison before he died, and Evelyn immediately becomes their prime suspect. Vida refuses to help her sister, and Glenn begins to hate Vida for it. Yet there is a hint of a change in her stance, and the final image shows Vida walking into the police station, leaving the audience to ponder the tangled loyalties that drove the tragedy.
This Is My Love Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Vida's life at the diner with her sister and brother-in-law” to “Final image: Vida heads to the police station”. 12 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Vida's life at the diner with her sister and brother-in-law
Vida Dove lives with her younger sister Evelyn and brother-in-law Murray Myer, and she works in the diner he owns. The arrangement keeps Vida close to a tense, controlling family dynamic after Murray's car-crash paralysis. This ordinary setup becomes the backdrop for a love triangle that will destabilize their lives.
When:Present Where:Diner
- 2
Murray's past with Vida and his paralysis
Murray was Vida's former beau, who married her sister. A car crash left him paralyzed, and his bitterness hardened into cruelty toward Vida. His resentful mood colors every interaction and makes him the pivotal, volatile force in the household.
When:Past Where:Home
- 3
Eddie Collins brings Glenn Harris to the diner
Eddie Collins is Vida's boyfriend, though she is not deeply invested in him. During a visit, Eddie brings his friend Glenn Harris to the diner, where Vida is instantly struck by his looks. The meeting plants the seed of attraction that drives the subsequent conflict.
When:Evening Where:Diner
- 4
Vida is attracted to Glenn; Glenn asks her out
Glenn Harris appears charming, and Vida feels drawn to him. He asks Vida out, sparking a budding romance that complicates her already fractured situation. The possibility of a new relationship begins to threaten existing loyalties.
When:Evening Where:Diner
- 5
Glenn is also interested in Evelyn
Vida learns that Glenn is also attracted to Evelyn, not Vida, which shocks her deeply. Evelyn's involvement hints at a planned scheme rather than honest affection. The prospect of a love triangle within the family becomes more tangled.
When:Evening Where:Diner
- 6
Evelyn schemes to use Glenn to fool Murray
Evelyn, eager to maintain control, schemes to use Glenn to fool Murray. She hopes the dating setup will fuel jealousy and keep Vida off balance. Vida remains unaware of Evelyn's manipulation at this stage.
When:Evening Where:Home
- 7
Vida's relief at a second date turns to shock at Evelyn's setup
Vida is overjoyed when Glenn agrees to a second date, but she is devastated to learn Evelyn orchestrated the setup to fool Murray. The revelation deepens the rift between the sisters and heightens the stakes of the romance. The tense situation threatens to explode into tragedy.
When:Evening Where:Diner
- 8
Vida's night with sleeping pills and Murray's death
Back at home, Vida takes sleeping pills and neglects Murray, who slips into convulsions. The next morning she discovers him dead, and a police investigation reveals that Murray received a fatal injection of poison before he died. The discovery pivots the story toward suspicion and justice.
When:Night to morning Where:Home
- 9
Police link Murray's death to poisoning; Evelyn is a suspect
A police investigation reveals that Murray received a fatal injection of poison before he died, making Evelyn the prime suspect. The case shifts the blame and creates tension among the remaining players, especially between Vida and Evelyn. Vida's stance toward Evelyn hardens as the investigation proceeds.
When:Next day Where:Police Station
- 10
Vida refuses to help Evelyn; Glenn's resentment grows
Vida refuses to help Evelyn during the investigation, and Glenn comes to hate Vida for abandoning her sister. The strain of loyalties and lies pushes him further away from the web of relationships. The moral complexity of the trio deepens as the case unfolds.
When:Following day Where:Home
- 11
Vida signals a change of heart
Despite the turmoil, Vida seems to have a change of heart, suggesting she may seek truth or justice. She steps toward the police with a new resolve, signaling a possible turn in the story. The moment hints at consequences for all involved.
When:Ending Where:City
- 12
Final image: Vida heads to the police station
Vida is last seen walking into the police station, leaving her fate and motives open to interpretation. The ending emphasizes moral ambiguity and the weight of the truth. The audience is left to wonder what comes next for Vida and the others.
When:Ending Where:Police Station
Who Are the Main Characters in This Is My Love?
9 characters, among them Vida Dove — Linda Darnell, Evelyn Myer — Faith Domergue and Murray Myer — Dan Duryea: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- VD
Vida Dove — Linda Darnell
Played by Linda Darnell
Vida is the central figure navigating a crowded, tense household. She forms a reluctant attraction to Glenn while being wary of her sister's schemes. Her loyalty to family clashes with her desire for personal happiness, shaping her decisions as the story unfolds.
- 💘 Romantic
- 🏠 Domestic
- 🔥 Tension
- EM
Evelyn Myer — Faith Domergue
Played by Faith Domergue
Evelyn sits at the heart of the household’s turmoil, presenting a poised exterior while pulling strings behind the scenes. She manipulates circumstances, including Glenn's entry into Vida's life, to create conflict and regain control within the marriage. Her actions push the family toward a moral precipice and a brewing storm of suspicion.
- 🎭 Manipulation
- 💘 Love triangle
- 🌀 Intrigue
- MM
Murray Myer — Dan Duryea
Played by Dan Duryea
Paralyzed from a car crash, Murray is bitter and domineering, using his condition to dominate his household. His jealous outbursts heighten tension and fuel accusations within the marriage. His death from a poison injection becomes the catalyst for the ensuing investigation.
- 💢 Jealousy
- 🧭 Control
- 🩺 Medical
- GH
Glenn Harris — Rick Jason
Played by Rick Jason
A handsome outsider whose arrival triggers Vida's attraction, Glenn becomes entangled in a complex web of affections. He becomes a focal point of the sisterly rivalry, pulled between Vida's interest and Evelyn's manipulation. His presence intensifies the emotional stakes of the love triangle.
- 💘 Romantic
- 🎭 Drama
- 🌀 Conflicted
- EC
Eddie Collins — Hal Baylor
Played by Hal Baylor
Vida's boyfriend, though she is not deeply invested in the relationship. He introduces Glenn to the diner, inadvertently triggering the events that follow. His role serves as a catalyst for the ensuing complications among the central characters.
- 💬 Realist
- 💔 Unfulfilled
- PD
Police Detective — John Larch
Played by John Larch
The Police Detective leads the investigation into Murray's death, interrogating suspects and uncovering inconsistencies. He represents the procedural dimension of the story, driving the search for truth amid shifting loyalties.
- 🔎 Investigation
- 🕵️ Police
- DA
District Attorney — William Hopper
Played by William Hopper
The District Attorney oversees the legal aspects of the case, weighing charges and pursuing accountability. He frames the ethical and legal stakes of Evelyn's possible involvement and the broader implications for the family.
- ⚖️ Legal
- 🧭 Authority
- DR
Doctor Raines — Judd Holdren
Played by Judd Holdren
Doctor Raines is the medical professional associated with Murray's condition and the investigation's medical questions. His presence underscores the clinical dimension of the crime and the analysis of Murray's death.
- 🩺 Medical
- 🧪 Science
- SM
Shirley Myer — Susie Mathers
Played by Susie Mathers
Shirley is part of the Myer family circle, contributing to the household dynamic. Her presence adds to the domestic environment and the sense of family stakes within the plot.
- 👧 Family
- 🫶 Innocence
Where and When Is This Is My Love Set?
This Is My Love is set in Vida Dove's Home and Murray Myer's Diner. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
Vida Dove's Home, Murray Myer's Diner
The story centers on Vida Dove's modest home shared with her sister Evelyn and brother-in-law Murray Myer, and the diner Murray owns where Vida works. The diner functions as the social hub where characters intersect, creating a backdrop of late-night conversations and shifting allegiances. The home atmosphere is claustrophobic and fraught with jealousy, control, and unspoken desires that drive the plot forward.
- 🏠 Domestic
- 🎭 Drama
- 💘 Tension
- 🔍 Mystery
What Are the Themes of This Is My Love?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love and Jealousy, Family Deception and Investigation.
-
01
Love and Jealousy
Vida is drawn to Glenn Harris while already involved with Eddie Collins, and the arrival of Glenn intensifies rivalrous feelings with Evelyn. The love triangle exposes insecurities and the destructive potential of desire within a constrained domestic setting. Jealousy becomes a catalyst for deception and emotional push-pulls that propel the narrative toward crisis.
-
02
Family Deception
Evelyn's calculated actions manipulate the people around her, particularly in how she handles Glenn's introduction to Vida. Murray's volatile insecurities amplify the sense that the family cannot trust each other, eroding fragile bonds. The façade of propriety masks a web of manipulation that heightens moral ambiguity.
-
03
Investigation
Murray's death from a suspected poison injection launches a police inquiry that scrutinizes Evelyn and the household. Detectives and the District Attorney piece together motives, alibies, and secrets, testing loyalties to breaking point. The investigation confronts the question of whether love justifies crime or if darker impulses govern the outcomes.
What Kind of Film Is This Is My Love?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A dark, emotionally oppressive drama filled with bitter jealousy and desperation, where a claustrophobic love triangle leads to a tragic death and an uncertain outcome.
- melancholic
- tense
- claustrophobic
- bitter
- jealous
- desperate
- domestic drama
- sibling rivalry
- romantic jealousy
- marriage breakdown
Content notes: domestic abuse, poisoning, emotional manipulation.
Where to Watch This Is My Love
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