Art collector Sir Basil Turton has suddenly become attractive to women upon inheriting his father's title and wealth. Natalia (Joan Collins), his domineering younger wife, flirts with numerous men and is obviously having an affair with a younger guest. Fortunately, he has a loyal butler, Jelks (John Gielgud), who goes to great effort to hide Natalia's promiscuity. Natalia, demonstrating Basil's art collection to a lover, puts her head in a wooden sculpture and becomes stuck. Basil attempts to free her with petroleum jelly, but fails. Jelks provides him with an ancient axe. He could cut up the sculpture to free his wife, or...
Examples:
- Age-Gap Romance: Natalia is much younger than Basil.
- Ambiguous Ending: Does Sir Basil Turton save his sculpture or his wife?
- Gold Digger: Natalia has clearly only married Basil so she can exploit his wealth and gain the title of Lady Turton.
- Henpecked Husband: Sir Basil. His wife runs his business and engages in adultery while he suffers in silence.
- Mood Whiplash: The final seconds go from farce to horror when it appears that Sir Basil is about to decapitate his wife.
- Old Retainer: Jenks will do anything to protect Sir Basil.
- Really Gets Around: Natalia, who is constantly flirtatious and seems to invite many younger male guests to the house just to have an affair with them.
