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

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

User Reviews

Howlingly bad melodrama saved by Hayes

VERY old and creaky talky about Madame Claudet (Helen Hayes) sacrificing everything for her son (who grows up into Robert Young). The thing is her son doesn't know she's alive. She had to give him up because she was abandoned by his father and (wrongfully) thrown in jail. She secretly supports him by becoming a prostitute.

It's as bad as it sounds and very old and out-dated. Plays like a (bad) play but Helen Hayes single-handedly saves it. She overdoes it occasionally (but then she WAS a stage actress) but she's basically just excellent. She won a well-deserved Oscar for this. And seeing Robert Young so...young (sorry) is fun. I just didn't buy the story for one second--it was just too silly (and old-fashioned) to be taken seriously. But it moves VERY quickly and is worth seeing for Hayes alone. I'm giving it a 7.