In 1840s New York Catherine lives with her physician father Dr Sloper. When Morris Townsend, a handsome but penniless young man, comes along and woos and wins his daughter's heart, Dr Sloper is sure that he is only after her considerable inheritance, and opposing their marriage he whisks her away to Europe. After Catherine returns to New York, the young lovers plan to elope but will Dr Sloper's threat to disinherit his daughter finally force Morris to show the money grabbing colours her father is convinced he has? Olivia de Havilland won her second Academy Award for The Heiress in this version of the Ruth and Augustus Goetz play, based on Henry James's 'Washington Square'.