The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Edgar Selwyn

Writers:

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

Release Date:

24 October 1931 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Medical School | Prison | Prostitution | Suicide | Thief

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reginald Barlow	...	Public Assistance Official (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard	...	Butler Saying Job Already Filled (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Merchant Seaman (uncredited)
Nora Cecil	...	Prison Nun (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Frankie Darro	...	Larry Claudet - as a Boy (uncredited)
Sherry Hall	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Prisoner Behind Bars (uncredited)
Robert Lees	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gus Leonard	...	Landlord (uncredited)
Theodore Lorch	...	Felix - the Headwaiter (uncredited)
Eric Mayne	...	Medical School Professor (uncredited)
Frank Reicher	...	Arresting Detective (uncredited)
Virginia Sale	...	Charity Ward Nun (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	French Officer in Club (uncredited)

Directed by
Edgar Selwyn

Writing credits
Edward Knoblock		(play "The Lullaby")
Charles MacArthur		(dialogue continuity)
Ben Hecht		uncredited

Produced by
Irving Thalberg	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Oliver T. Marsh		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Tom Held

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Costume Design by
Adrian		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Cecil Holland	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Earl Taggert	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director

Camera and Electrical Department
Samuel Cohen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Eddie Fitzgerald	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Kyme Meade	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Charles Pollock	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
René Hubert	....	wardrobe

Other crew
Howard Dietz	....	press representative (uncredited)
Harry Rapf	....	supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1931) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

The Lullaby (UK)

Runtime:

75 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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 (1931), 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.

Quotes:

Carlo Boretti: Sit here my dear. Oh wait, I want to get this cushion... it brings out all the blue that's sleeping in your eyes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-06-07)" (1964)

Soundtrack:

For He's a Jolly Good Fellow

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.