Elizabeth Barrett (Jennifer Jones) is the disabled, adult daughter of Edward Moulton-Barrett (John Gielgud) of Wimpole Street, and she has an intense interest in poetry. However, she lives under the obsessive rule of her father, and his domination severely limits her ability to develop her poetry. He also discourages close contact with any males, so when the poet Robert Browning (Bill Travers) enters her life, matters are brought to a head. Edward finds that his control over Elizabeth, and her younger sister Henrietta (Virginia McKenna), is far from complete.

Starring John Gielgud, Jennifer Jones, Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna, Vernon Grey, Susan Stephen, Jean Anderson, Maxine Audley, Leslie Phillips, Lawrence Naismith, Moultrie Kelsall, Keith Baxter, plus keep an eye out for Richard Thorp (aka Emmerdale's Alan Turner) in an early screen role as Alfred.