The film ostensibly covers Crippen 's trial .
The story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor 's relationship with Crippen 's coarse , overbearing wife Crippen 's his affair with a young mistress .
The film ostensibly covers Crippen 's trial but the story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor 's relationship with his coarse , overbearing wife and his affair with a young mistress .