Madam Satan (1930)

Angela and Bob Brooks are an upper class couple. Unfortunately, Bob is an unfaithful husband. But Angela has a plan to win back her husband's affections. An elaborate masquerade ball is to ... See full summary »

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Jeanie Macpherson (by), Gladys Unger (by),

Stars:

Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny, Lillian Roth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay Johnson	...	Angela Brooks
Reginald Denny	...	Bob Brooks
Lillian Roth	...	Trixie
Roland Young	...	Jimmy Wade
Elsa Peterson	...	Martha
Jack King	...	Herman
Eddie Prinz	...	Biff (as Edward Prinz)
Boyd Irwin	...	Captain
Wallace MacDonald	...	First Mate
Tyler Brooke	...	Romeo
Ynez Seabury	...	Babo
Theodore Kosloff	...	Electricity
Julanne Johnston	...	Miss Conning Tower
Martha Sleeper	...	Fish Girl
Doris McMahon	...	Water

Storyline

Angela and Bob Brooks are an upper class couple. Unfortunately, Bob is an unfaithful husband. But Angela has a plan to win back her husband's affections. An elaborate masquerade ball is to be held aboard a magnificent dirigible. Angela will attend and disguise herself as a mysterious devil woman. Hidden behind her mask, and wrapped in an alluring gown, Angela as the devil woman will to try to seduce her unknowing husband and teach him a lesson.

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Plot Keywords:

devil | masquerade | airplane crash | auction | jumping from height | 

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Genres:

Musical | Romance | Comedy

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Madame Satan

Box Office

Budget:

$980,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min 116 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two songs not used in the film: "This Is Love" - music by Herbert Stothart and lyrics by Clifford Grey; and "Satan's Song" - music by Jack King and lyrics by Elsie Janis.

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Goofs

Early on at the party, Trixie's feathered costume sustains some damage. Later, none of the feathers are bent.

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Quotes

Jimmy Wade: It's a waste of time to take a married man to Hell.

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Connections

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008)

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Soundtracks

"Low Down"
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Jack King
Lyrics by Elsie Janis
Played on piano by Jack King and on banjo by Eddie Prinz and sung by both
Sung by Lillian Roth in rehearsal
Played on piano and sung by Jack King and danced by Lillian Roth and Eddie Prinz
Reprised by Abe Lyman and His Band and sung by Lillian Roth and Kay Johnson at the party
Later reprised by Kay Johnson on piano and sung by her

User Reviews

An over the top comedy, musical and disaster film!

"Madame Satan" is one of those movies that is not sure what it is but is having a grand time trying to figure it out. Part bedroom farce (where in pre code days couples sleep in the same bed), romantic comedy, musical and at its climax a disaster film. Its basic plot follows the misadventures of a married couple as they try to relight the spark in their marriage. The climax is a costume ball aboard a zeppelin (the musical production numbers here are pretty spectacular) that eventually ends in the zeppelin's crash in a storm. The effects are all done with miniatures and they really are quite impressive. The cast , especially Roland Young, are quite good though at times hesitant. You get the impression that in this early talkie the actors are not yet comfortable with sound but that is a minor quibble. All in all it is a fun over the top film that rarely has a dull moment.