It was made by Wessex Film Productions at Pinewood Studios, with sets designed by Peter Proud.

She augments her slender income by using her children to extort money, visiting the houses of the rich to tell a pathetic story and beg for help.

Lorna makes a rich capture when Sir Halmar Bernard (Cecil Parker) proposes marriage to her.

When her other daughter, Jay (Jean Simmons), is arrested for forging a cheque, Lorna refuses to help her.

Jack Lee later recalled the experience of working for Wessex "revolted me" because "it reminded me of when I was a child and my mother would send me out on begging expeditions because she never had any money.