Madame X (1966)

A woman married to a wealthy socialite, is compromised by the accidental death of a man who had been romantically pursuing her, and is forced by her mother-in-law to assume a new identity ... See full summary »

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writers:

Jean Holloway (screenplay), Alexandre Bisson (play)

Stars:

Lana Turner, John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lana Turner	...	Holly Parker
John Forsythe	...	Clay Anderson
Ricardo Montalban	...	Phil Benton
Burgess Meredith	...	Dan Sullivan
John Van Dreelen	...	Christian Torben
Virginia Grey	...	Mimsy
Warren Stevens	...	Michael Spalding
Carl Benton Reid	...	The Judge
Teddy Quinn	...	Clay Anderson Jr. as a Boy
Frank Maxwell	...	Dr. Evans
Kaaren Verne	...	Nurse Riborg (as Karen Verne)
Joe De Santis	...	Carter (as Joe DeSantis)
Frank Marth	...	Det. Combs
Bing Russell	...	Police Sgt. Riley
Teno Pollick	...	Manuel Lopez

Storyline

A woman married to a wealthy socialite, is compromised by the accidental death of a man who had been romantically pursuing her, and is forced by her mother-in-law to assume a new identity to save the reputation of her husband and infant son. She wanders the world, trying to forget her heartbreak with the aid of alcohol and unsavory men, eventually returning to the city of her downfall, where she murders a blackmailer who threatens to expose her past. Amazingly, she is represented at her murder trial by her now adult son, who is a public defender. Hoping to continue to protect her son, she refuses to give her real name and is known to the court as the defendant, "Madame X."

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Plot Keywords:

murder | socialite | mother in law | accidental death | trial | 

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Taglines:

There was always a man... there was never a name!

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish German

Release Date:

3 March 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Haha no tabiji

Filming Locations:

Playboy Mansion - 10236 Charing Cross Road, Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Ross Hunter Productions, Eltee

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exteriors of the Anderson estate were filmed at 10236 Charing Cross Road, Los Angeles, California. Six years later this mansion would become famous as The Playboy Mansion, though at that time it was owned by an engineer named Louis Statham.

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Goofs

During Holly's murder trial, an expert witness testifies that she is addicted to absinthe, a type of liquor that has been outlawed throughout the entire world because it causes insanity. In reality, absinthe was sold in a number of European countries at that time (mid-sixties) and in years since has become legally available in even more countries.

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Quotes

Clayton 'Clay' Anderson: [to his mother while decorating Christmas tree] Mother, there aren't enough icicles on your side.

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Connections

Version of Madame X (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Swedish Rhapsody"
by Willy Mattes (as Charles Wildman)

User Reviews

Lana Wuz Robbed !!!

I couldn't agree more ! I have always thought this was Lana supreme --- even better than "Peyton Place." Hollywood OWED it to Lana to nominate her greatest performance --- a terrible oversight. It's like nominating Doris for "Pillow Talk" INSTEAD of "Love Me or Leave Me." I will never forget seeing this movie at Fort Hood, Texas when I was in basic training in 1966. I bought the soundtrack LP immediately, and played it to death. It has never come out on CD. HELLO, Universal Music ??? Nice to see her fans supporting her, though ! And the movie is a luscious "guilty pleasure." It looks like the cast enjoyed making this film. I know Constance Bennett must have loved to have one more juicy role ! If you like the splashy, technicolor "wimmen's pitchas", as my sister would say, don't miss this !