The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)

Out of jail for a crime she did not commit, Madelon turns to prostitution and thievery to send her illegitimate son to medical school.

Director:

Edgar Selwyn

Writers:

Edward Knoblock (play), Charles MacArthur (dialogue continuity),

Stars:

Helen Hayes, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Helen Hayes	...	Madelon Claudet
Lewis Stone	...	Carlo Boretti
Neil Hamilton	...	Larry Maynard
Cliff Edwards	...	Victor Lebeau
Jean Hersholt	...	Dr. Dulac
Marie Prevost	...	Rosalie Lebeau
Robert Young	...	Dr. Lawrence Claudet
Karen Morley	...	Alice Claudet
Charles Winninger	...	M. Novella - Photographer
Alan Hale	...	Hubert
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Roget - Boretti's Butler
Lennox Pawle	...	Felix St. Jacques
Russ Powell	...	Monsieur Claudet

Storyline

French country girl Madelon falls for artist Larry, who leaves her after she becomes pregnant. She finds help from jewel thief Carlo, but he commits suicide when the police try to arrest him. Madelon is arrested and receives a ten year term in prison for assisting him in his profession. To support her son, who does not know that she's been in prison, she becomes a street walker, allowing him to attend medical school.

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Plot Keywords:

medical school | prison | thief | prostitution | suicide | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

24 October 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Sünde der Madelon Claudet

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the film flopped badly on its first preview, Irving Thalberg ordered it back into production and had about one-third of the film re-shot. Since Helen Hayes was already making her second film, Arrowsmith, she was called back to work on the "Claudet" retakes during her only times off from shooting "Arrowsmith," Saturday afternoons and Sundays. When Samuel Goldwyn, the producer of "Arrowsmith," heard that Hayes was working seven days a week and making two films simultaneously, he insisted that Hayes stop doing "Claudet" retakes until "Arrowsmith" was finished.

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Quotes

Madelon Claudet: You know, it's the queerest thing. When I was a little girl, Father Matthew used to say to us children, "You pay for everything - everything in this life." And last night when we were dancing, I thought of him, and I laughed to myself and said, "What an old fool you are, Father Matthew..." But he was right. And I'm paying.

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Connections

Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

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Soundtracks

"For He's a Jolly Good Fellow"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Larry's friends

User Reviews

Soap Opera Sleaze Ahead Of It's Day?

I don't why but I always associated Helen Hayes as some matronly sweet grandmother type lady. Well, as a young women, she apparent was no lady, at least with her showing in this movie. I guess it was "ahead of it's time" in its morals. The film might be 1931 but it's about a woman and a guy who run off the Paris, never marry, but have a child. He returns home before the child is even born and leaves her. She then becomes the mistress of a wealthy cook, then is sent out in the streets again.

This is real soap opera stuff, through and through, and a bit seedy at that. It must have been pretty shocking the audiences when it was released.