From Wikipedia:
"Tom Robinson Lee (John Kerr), a 17-year old student at a boy's prep school, is having difficulties fitting in with the other boys who like sports, talking about girls, and listening to pop music. He prefers classical music, reads books, can sew, plays theater, and generally seems to be more at ease in the company of women.
The other boys torment him for his "unmanly" qualities and call him "sister boy", and is treated ruthlessly by his father, Herb Lee (Edward Andrews), who believes a man should be manly. Only Al (Darryl Hickman), also a student at the prep school, treats Tom with any decency, perceiving that being different is not the same as being emasculate. This turbulance is noticed by Laura Reynolds (Deborah Kerr), the young wife of the House Master Bill Reynolds (Leif Erickson). She tries to build a connection with the young man, eventually even falling in love with him, presumably because of his similarity to her first husband John, who was killed in World War II.
The situation escalates when Tom visits the local prostitute to dispel the rumors about his sexuality, but is unable to have intercourse with her. This failure prompts him to attempt suicide and he also has to leave the school because of his visit with her. He and Laura eventually have sex, prompting Laura to leave her husband.
The film opens and closes ten years into the future, when the adult Tom, who is now a successful writer and also married, visits his college at a reunion."