Madame X (1937)
A haunting MGM courtroom drama about a fallen woman whose darkest secret collides with her greatest loss in a trial she never expected.
Madame X - Movie Information
- Original Title: Madame X
- Release Year: 1937
- Directed by: Sam Wood
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): NR
- Runtime: 1h 12m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): October 1, 1937 (United States - NR)
- Production Companies: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Production Countries: United States of America
Madame X - Plot
An alcoholic woman was charged and tried for murder and a young defense attorney, unaware that she is his mother, takes the assignment to defend her in court.
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Madame X - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Sam Wood
Main Cast
- Gladys George
- Warren William
- John Beal
- Reginald Owen
- William Henry
- Henry Daniell
- Phillip Reed
- Lynne Carver
- Emma Dunn
- Ruth Hussey
Writers
- John Meehan
- James Kevin McGuinness
Producers
- James Kevin McGuinness
Madame X - FAQs
Does the son in Madame X know his client is his mother?
No — that dramatic irony is the emotional core of the film. Raymond Fleuriot, played by John Beal, passionately defends a woman accused of murder without realizing she is Jacqueline, the mother he was told had died years earlier. The revelation gives the courtroom climax its devastating power.
What is Madame X (1937) about?
Madame X follows Jacqueline Fleuriot, a woman banished by her cold husband after a scandal and driven to alcoholism and ruin. Years later, she is charged with murder. In a cruel twist of fate, the idealistic young defense attorney appointed to represent her is the son she was forced to abandon.
Who plays the lead role in Madame X 1937?
Gladys George delivers the central performance as Jacqueline Fleuriot, also known as Miss Pran and ultimately Madame X. Her portrayal of a woman's descent from respectable society wife to destitute alcoholic earned widespread critical praise and remains one of the most celebrated performances in 1930s Hollywood drama.
Is Madame X 1937 based on a true story?
No. Madame X is based on a 1908 French stage play by Alexandre Bisson titled Madame X. The melodrama proved enormously popular and was adapted for the screen multiple times, with the 1937 MGM version starring Gladys George being among the most acclaimed of those adaptations.
Who directed Madame X in 1937?
Sam Wood directed the 1937 production of Madame X for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Wood was a prolific Hollywood director of the era, known for his work on prestige studio pictures. He guides the film's emotional arc with restraint, allowing the cast — particularly Gladys George — to carry the melodrama's considerable weight.
How long is the 1937 film Madame X?
The 1937 version of Madame X has a runtime of 72 minutes. Despite its relatively compact length, the film covers a sweeping emotional journey — from a woman's fall from grace and years of exile to a climactic murder trial — making it a tightly constructed and affecting piece of classic Hollywood drama.
Is Madame X 1937 a remake or an adaptation?
It is both. The 1937 film is an adaptation of Alexandre Bisson's 1908 French play Madame X and also a remake of earlier screen versions, including a 1929 MGM sound film starring Ruth Chatterton. The story was so popular it was adapted for cinema at least six times across several decades.
What are similar films to Madame X 1937?
Viewers drawn to Madame X's courtroom tension and emotional melodrama may also enjoy 12 Angry Men (1997), The Rainmaker (1997), and Suspect (1987) for their legal drama intensity. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) and Defending Your Life (1991) offer thematic echoes around identity, redemption, and the weight of past choices.
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