A Woman's Help story
Arnold is controlled by his domineering but invalid wife, Elizabeth. When the attractive Miss Greco is hired as Elizabeth's nurse, she and Arnold begin an affair and slowly poison Elizabeth by overdosing her medicine. Before she can die, Elizabeth catches them kissing and fires Miss Greco. Elizabeth then hires an older woman to be her nurse, not knowing that the woman is Arnold's mother, who helps him continue to poison Elizabeth. Directed by: Arthur Hiller. Story by: Henry Slesar.
14 total · 10 major · 4 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| controlling partner | major | Arnold was under the thumb of his domineering, invalid wife Elizabeth. |
| coping with a nag | major | Arnold was recurringly berated by his shrewish wife, Elizabeth. |
| coping with being ill and indisposed | major | Elizabeth was an invalid and largely confined to a wheelchair. Elizabeth was an invalid though it is unclear exactly what her problem was. She spent most of her time in bed or a wheelchair, though a cane suggested that she could walk to some extent. |
| extramarital affair | major | Arnold was having an affair with Miss Grecco right under his wife's nose. |
| husband and wife | major | Arnold plotted to poison his wealthy, invalid wife, Elizabeth, and inherit her fortune. |
| infatuation | major | Arnold and Miss Greco quickly fell head over heels for each other. |
| love triangle | major | Arnold, Elizabeth, Miss Grecco. |
| master and servant | major | The home nurse Miss Greco conspired with Arnold to slowly poison his wife, Elizabeth, who was under her care. |
| poison murder | major | Arnold plotted to poison his wealthy, invalid wife, and inherit her fortune. |
| spouse murder | major | Arnold plotted to murder his wife, inherit her fortune, and then marry Miss Grecco. Miss Grecco acted as his accomplice, as did his mother. |