The Constant Nymph

Lewis Dodd (Charles Boyer) is a composer whose latest symphony flops in London. Seeking new inspiration, and to escape his critics, he travels to Switzerland to stay at the home of older friend Albert Sanger (Montagu Love) and his young wife, Lina. Sanger's four young daughters—Kate (Jean Muir (actress)), Toni (Brenda Marshall), Tessa (Joan Fontaine) and Paula (Joyce Reynolds (actress))—have been raised in relative isolation, and swiftly develop crushes on Lewis, especially Tessa, (who has a heart condition). The elderly and hard drinking Sanger dies, Lina leaves and, as per his instructions, Lewis sends to England for Charles Creighton (Charles Coburn), Sanger's wealthy brother in law (the uncle of Tessa and Paula), and his adult daughter, Florence (Alexis Smith) to help the children, as Sanger had very little money to leave them. Lewis is inspired by the girls to write some of the first heart-felt music he has composed in years. Kate leaves for school, Toni marries Fritz (Peter Lorre), and Lewis falls in love with the beautiful Florence, who is in her twenties. Lewis quickly asks Florence to marry him, breaking the heart of Tessa, who has been secretly in love with him for a long time. Tessa and Paula are sent to boarding school, while Lewis and Florence marry and move to London, where they live with Florence's father, but Florence angers Lewis by trying to promote and manage his social and professional activities when he values his independence. Tessa and Paula are unhappy at school and run away to the Dodd's house. Lewis is much more concerned about their welfare than is Florence. Lewis is encouraged by Tessa to write beautiful music again. Tessa and Lewis confess privately their feelings for one another, but Tessa says that she cannot betray her cousin. Lewis tells Florence that he does not love her but has always loved Tessa and is going away for a while. Florence initially says that she will wait for him but then accuses him of having an affair with the girl.