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.

---

Plot Keywords:

medical school | prison | thief | prostitution | suicide | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

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

Helen Hayes was reportedly so appalled by her performance that she tried to buy the movie from the studio so that she could destroy it.

---

Quotes

Carlo Boretti: I wish Spaniards wouldn't put so much tragedy in their music; they ask for love with so many tears.

---

Connections

Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)

---

Soundtracks

"Il était une bergère (There Was a Shepherdess)"
(uncredited)
Traditional French children's song
Sung a cappella by an unidentified drunk who picks up Madelon

User Reviews

The definitive "sacrificing mother" saga of the 1930s

Helen Hayes makes an astonishing film debut here as the title character, a young woman who runs off with her poor beau and has a child. Through ensuing (and realistic) circumstances, she goes through the transitions of being a destitute country girl, a jewel thief's lover, a prison inmate and finally becoming a haggard vagrant. All of these incidents, at the expense of her own pleasure, are done in order to secure a place in life for her son as a prominent physician. At only 73 minutes, one would expect these changes to occur at somewhat of a breakneck speed, but the movie moves along at a leisurely and elegiac pace. Hayes won herself a well-deserved Academy Award for her luminous performance in this ultimate 1930s tearjerker.