Madam Satan (1930)

Angela and Bob Brooks are an upper class couple. Unfortunately, Bob is an unfaithful husband. But Angela has a plan to win back her husband's affections. An elaborate masquerade ball is to ... See full summary »

Director:

Cecil B. DeMille

Writers:

Jeanie Macpherson (by), Gladys Unger (by)

Stars:

Kay Johnson, Reginald Denny, Lillian Roth

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kay Johnson	...	Angela Brooks / Madam Satan
Reginald Denny	...	Bob Brooks
Lillian Roth	...	Trixie
Roland Young	...	Jimmy Wade
Elsa Peterson	...	Martha - the Maid
Jack King	...	Herman
Eddie Prinz	...	Biff (as Edward Prinz)
Boyd Irwin	...	Zeppelin Captain
Wallace MacDonald	...	First Mate
Tyler Brooke	...	Romeo
Ynez Seabury	...	Babo
Theodore Kosloff	...	Electricity
Julanne Johnston	...	Miss Conning Tower
Martha Sleeper	...	Fish Girl
Doris McMahon	...	Water

Storyline

Angela and Bob Brooks are an upper class couple. Unfortunately, Bob is an unfaithful husband. But Angela has a plan to win back her husband's affections. An elaborate masquerade ball is to be held aboard a magnificent dirigible. Angela will attend and disguise herself as a mysterious devil woman. Hidden behind her mask, and wrapped in an alluring gown, Angela as the devil woman will to try to seduce her unknowing husband and teach him a lesson.

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Plot Keywords:

thunderstorm | romantic triangle | homosexual subtext | mysterious stranger | dirigible | 

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Taglines:

NEVER BEFORE ON THE SCREEN! Perhaps Never Again A drama of the silks and sex of society played against an amazing background of mad revels above the clouds. (Print Ad- Daily Argus, ((Mt. Vernon, NY)) 26 November 1930)

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Film debut of director Cecil B. DeMille's daughter Katherine DeMille as one of Henry VIII's wives in the airship's costume party.

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Goofs

Early on at the party, Trixie's feathered costume sustains some damage. Later, none of the feathers are bent.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Angela Brooks: Oh, Bobbikin, did you have a beautiful bath?

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are shown with smoke rising in the background, a reference to "satan", as mentioned in the title.

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Connections

Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

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Soundtracks

All I Know Is You're in My Arms
(1930) (uncredited)
Music by Jack King
Lyrics by Elsie Janis
Danced and sung by Reginald Denny and Kay Johnson

User Reviews

An over the top comedy, musical and disaster film!

"Madame Satan" is one of those movies that is not sure what it is but is having a grand time trying to figure it out. Part bedroom farce (where in pre code days couples sleep in the same bed), romantic comedy, musical and at its climax a disaster film. Its basic plot follows the misadventures of a married couple as they try to relight the spark in their marriage. The climax is a costume ball aboard a zeppelin (the musical production numbers here are pretty spectacular) that eventually ends in the zeppelin's crash in a storm. The effects are all done with miniatures and they really are quite impressive. The cast , especially Roland Young, are quite good though at times hesitant. You get the impression that in this early talkie the actors are not yet comfortable with sound but that is a minor quibble. All in all it is a fun over the top film that rarely has a dull moment.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

French English

Release Date:

20 September 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Madam Satan

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$980,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,005

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1