Madame X (1929)

A young lawyer unknowingly defends his mother who abandoned him when he was three.

Director:

Lionel Barrymore

Writers:

Alexandre Bisson (from the play by), Willard Mack (dialogue)

Stars:

Lewis Stone, Ruth Chatterton, Raymond Hackett

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lewis Stone	...	Louis Floriot
Ruth Chatterton	...	Jacqueline
Raymond Hackett	...	Raymond Floriot
Holmes Herbert	...	Noel
Eugenie Besserer	...	Rose
John P. Edington	...	Doctor
Mitchell Lewis	...	Colonel Hanby
Ullrich Haupt	...	Laroque (as Ullric Haupt)
Sidney Toler	...	Merivel
Richard Carle	...	Perissard
Carroll Nye	...	Darrell
Claude King	...	Valmorin (as Claud King)
Chappell Dossett	...	Judge

Storyline

Young Raymond Floriot, following in his father Louis Floriot's professional footsteps, he now France's attorney general, has just passed the bar exam. Raymond's first case, appointed to him by the courts, is a murder case. His pitiful and poor Jane Doe client, who refers to herself only as Madame X, admits to killing the scoundrel of a man named Laroque, but won't disclose why or in turn defend herself in court. Raymond knows nothing of her past, which includes once being a woman of class, married to man of prestige. But that marriage ended because he treated her without love, which resulted in her leaving him for another man, who in turn passed away shortly thereafter. Her first marriage produced a son, who her husband refused to let her see. Her son never knew she was alive, he being told by his father that she died. The consequence of his action left Madame X on a downward path where she never found love. Now, in turn, she hopes her silence will protect the one that she really ...

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | madame x character | murder | france | paris france | 

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Taglines:

See the disintegration of a woman's soul in this mighty drama of love and justice. (Print Ad-Newberry Observer,((Newberry, SC)) 18 February 1930)

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Retitled "Absinthe", in order to avoid confusion with the 1937 version, this film was first telecast in San Francisco 5 June 1958 on KGO-TV (Channel 7).

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Quotes

Jacqueline: A lady?
[laughs]
Jacqueline: Me, a lady? Why you poor fool, I was born in the gutter and to the gutter I shall return, if I haven't already done so!

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Connections

Version of La mujer X (1955)

User Reviews

I really enjoyed this old antique

I really liked this old antique! Even though the heavy theatrics of Ruth Chatterton, Lewis Stone, and Raymond Hackett showed through, it was interesting in getting people's emotions involved circa 1929. Remember this was the early talkie period and the actors were still projecting their emotions, feelings, excitement, etc from the more familiar silent period....talkies were the new medium but feelings, emotions came out from the silent mode. I thought the spoken dialog to be excellent even though stagy. The whole production, photography, lighting, camera work was also outstanding. Overall it was a very good melodramatic, emotional, and provoked much sympathy and feelings. I'm for one enjoy the early talkie period with all its antique, splendid grandeur. Lets dust off more of these films for our future movie and theater historic buffs!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 August 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Absinthe

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:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1