The Woman in White

The Woman in White

Year: 1948

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter Godfrey

MysteryThrillerThrillers and murder mysteriesIntriguing and suspenseful murder mysteriesNoir and dark crime dramas

A young painter hired to teach art to Laura Fairlie at an English estate meets Anne Catherick, a mysterious woman in white who is her double. He also encounters the cunning Count Fosco, who schemes to secure an inheritance by marrying Laura to Sir Percival Glyde, the nervous Mr. Fairlie, and the secretive Countess. Meanwhile, he is attracted to distant relative Marion Halcomb as dark intrigues unfold.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Woman in White (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Woman in White (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

19th century

Set in Victorian England, the story unfolds amid drawing rooms, country estates, and formal social rituals. Wealth, marriage, and reputation govern behavior, while secrets drive the drama and danger. The period's attitudes toward women and property shape the power dynamics and the plots against Laura. The tale leverages era-specific norms to heighten the tension between appearance and truth.

Location

Limmeridge House, Train Station, Nearby Asylum

The action centers on a rural English estate, Limmeridge House, where Walter teaches drawing and a web of intrigue unfolds. Nearby train stations link the house to broader towns, while a distant asylum represents the institution that holds secrets and unspoken fears. The settings alternate between grand interiors and shadowy corridors, highlighting themes of confinement, social control, and the era's rigid class structure.

🏰 Estate 🚉 Train Station 🏥 Asylum

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Main Characters – The Woman in White (1948)

Meet the key characters of The Woman in White (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Walter Hartright — Gig Young

A compassionate drawing teacher who becomes entangled in a dangerous conspiracy. He is principled, observant, and fearless in exposing Fosco and Glyde, even at personal risk. His steadfast pursuit of truth and love drives the narrative forward.

🧭 Protagonist 🔎 Investigator 💘 Romantic lead

Marian Halcombe — Alexis Smith

Intelligent, strong-willed cousin and ally to Laura. She orchestrates discovery, challenges social norms, and tirelessly pursues the truth, balancing empathy with pragmatism. Her courage and resourcefulness are crucial to uncovering the mystery and aiding the escape.

🧠 Strategist 🤝 Ally 🕵️ Investigator

Laura Fairlie / Anne Catherick — Eleanor Parker

Laura is a sheltered heiress whose marriage prospects are exploited by Glyde and Fosco. Anne Catherick, the true woman in white, becomes a symbol of the crime and the asylum's shadows. Laura's resilience grows as she fights to reclaim her life and love.

💔 Victim 🕊️ Resilient 💼 Heiress

Count Fosco — Sydney Greenstreet

A cunning mastermind who manipulates Laura's fate from behind a veneer of civility. Fosco orchestrates the deceit surrounding the inheritance and the confinement plot, showing a chilling mix of charm and malice. He is central to the film's sense of menace and intrigue.

🧠 Villain 🪄 Mastermind 🗝️ Manipulator

Countess Fosco — Agnes Moorehead

Wife of Fosco and a conspiratorial partner who shares responsibility for the deception. Her presence completes the cold, calculating duo. She participates in the plan and embodies the recurring theme of complicity within the upper class.

💼 Co-conspirator 🕵️ Ally 🗡️ Accomplice

Sir Percival Glyde — John Emery

An eager, money-driven suitor determined to gain Laura's fortune. Glyde's greed drives the marriage plot and the assault on Laura's autonomy. He is willing to sacrifice others for inheritance and status.

💰 Greed 🎭 Antagonist 👔 Aristocrat

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

Major Themes – The Woman in White (1948)

Explore the central themes of The Woman in White (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔎 Mystery

A central mystery centers on the woman in white and the true identity of Anne Catherick. Walter and Marian pursue clues, confront lies, and unravel a labyrinth of deceit. The intrigue hinges on hidden letters, misdirection, and the fear of discovering dangerous truths. Revelations gradually illuminate who can be trusted and who is to blame.

💰 Wealth & Inheritance

Laura's fortune drives the marriage plot and the villains' schemes. Fosco and Glyde manipulate appearances to seize control of the estate and Laura's autonomy. The story critiques greed and the social pressure to marry for money rather than for love. The resolution reveals the corrosive power of wealth when wielded without conscience.

🧭 Liberation

Characters strive to break free from confinement, coercion, and social expectation. Laura fights to reclaim her life, while Walter and Marian push for truth and rescue. Marian's perseverance empowers others and helps expose the conspiracy. The ending restores agency to the protagonists and rejects oppressive control.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:52

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The Woman in White Summary

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The Woman in White Summary

The Woman in White Timeline

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The Woman in White Timeline

More About The Woman in White

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