姑母意外死亡,给美丽、善良的少女宝拉(英格丽·褒曼 Ingrid Bergman 饰)留下大笔遗产,引来心术不正的青年安东(查尔斯·博耶 Charles Boyer 饰)觊觎。追求宝拉成功后,二人回到宝拉姑母曾经遇害的伦敦旧宅居住。本以为就此拥有完美丈夫和幸福生活的宝拉,逐渐受到古怪现象困扰,她总会听到奇怪的响声,东西经常莫名其妙消失又出现,新来的女仆也对她态度轻蔑,煤气灯也开始忽明忽暗,安东暗示一切都是宝拉自己的幻觉,是宝拉的精神出现了问题。就在宝拉慢慢心理崩溃,濒临发疯的边缘,一个年轻的侦探伯林(约瑟夫·科顿 Joseph Cotten 饰)出现了,他发现宝拉正在被孤立,背后的主谋正是她的完美丈夫……Paula's aunt, Alice Alquist, a famous entertainer, is murdered in her home. Paula, who lives with her aunt, finds the body. Police fail to find the killer, and Paula is sent away to school. Ten years later, Paula returns to London with her new husband. They take up residence in her aunt's house, which she has inherited. Paula is increasingly isolated by her husband but does come to the attention of an admirer of her aunt, Mr. Brian Cameron.