本片改编自著名作家伊夫林·沃的小说，八十年代被搬上荧屏后曾大获成功。故事以主人公查尔斯的视角展开，描写了伦敦近郊布赖兹赫德庄园一个天主教家庭的生活和命运。这个家族老一代的马奇梅因侯爵在第一次世界大战期间去国外参加战争，战后没有回国，长期和他的意大利情妇在威尼斯同居。他的妻子马奇梅因夫人住在伦敦，夫妻不睦，按照天主教规定，夫妻不能离婚，事实上他们长期分居。
拉里·唐纳（Larry Donner）是一位有着残忍前妻的作家，他在一个写作研讨会上教授他的一个学生欧文（Owen）厌倦了他专横的母亲。当欧文观看似乎反映了自己生活的希区柯克经典作品时，他决定将电影的情节付诸行动，并提出杀死拉里的前妻，如果拉里答应谋杀他的妈妈。在拉里有机会对计划做出反应之前，欧文似乎已经启动了事情。
A neurotic, twice-divorced sci-fi writer moves back in with his mother to solve his personal problems.
Julia Ross secures employment, through a rather-noisy employment agency, with a wealthy widow and goes to live at her house. Two days later, she awakens in a different house in different clothes and with a new identity.
About the foolish and lost Gabriel who lives entirely in the shadow of his brother, the brave soldier Mart who died in the war and is continuously immortalized by the dominant mother.
About the foolish and lost Gabriel who lives entirely in the shadow of his brother, the brave soldier Mart who died in the war and is continuously immortalized by the dominant mother.