Madame X (1966)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writers:

Alexandre Bisson (play)
Jean Holloway (writer)

Release Date:

27 April 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH ALL ITS SEX AND DRAMA!

Plot:

A woman married to a wealthy socialite, is compromised by the accidental death of a man who had been romantically pursuing her...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Socialite | Accidental Death | Mother In Law | Trials

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lana Turner	...	Holly Parker
John Forsythe	...	Clayton 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	...	Clayton Anderson, Jr., as a boy
Frank Maxwell	...	Dr. Evans
Kaaren Verne	...	Nurse Riborg
Joe De Santis	...	Carter
Frank Marth	...	Det. Combs
Bing Russell	...	Police Sgt. Riley
Teno Pollick	...	Manuel Lopez

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Eltee

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.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although the movie covers a 25-30 year span ending in the mid-Sixties, all of the women are dressed and coiffed in the height of mid-sixties fashions in scenes set in the late thirties/early forties.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Swedish Rhapsody

Madame X- My Sonny Boy! Soap Opera Filled Wtih Golden Suds ***1/2

1966's "Madame X" was a second version of the original starring the Oscar nominated Ruth Chatterton in a memorable unforgettable performance.

This sudsy story of a woman who accidentally killed her former lover and lived to regret it every day of her life pulls out all the stops. It's as if Lana Turner had to wear a scarlet letter for what she had done for the rest of her life.

Having fled the scene thanks to her vicious mother-in-law, played with relish by Constance Bennett, Turner returns years later and is defended by her now grown up son, Keir Dullea. He doesn't know why, but Dullea is drawn to this mysterious woman. He had been told years before that his mother was dead.

The film is convincing because of the wonderful cast. Lana Turner has never been better and Constance Bennett's final performance before her death in 1965 of a stroke, is heartfelt and filled with passion.

That last scene is absolutely gut-wrenching. You will feel for the characters. A truly remarkable film done superbly by a fine cast.