Madame X (1966)

80% of users liked it
(594 ratings)

Lana Turner takes the lead in the seventh film version of Alexandre Bisson's glossy soap opera. Holly Parker (Turner) is married to respected diplomat Clay Anderson (John Forsythe), but his busy schedule prevents them from seeing each other very often. Distracted and lonely, Holly allows her head to… More Lana Turner takes the lead in the seventh film version of Alexandre Bisson's glossy soap opera. Holly Parker (Turner) is married to respected diplomat Clay Anderson (John Forsythe), but his busy schedule prevents them from seeing each other very often. Distracted and lonely, Holly allows her head to be turned by carefree playboy Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban), who dies in a freak accident during an assignation. In a panic, Holly contacts her mother-in-law, Estelle Anderson (Constance Bennett) and asks what she should do. Estelle, a joyless woman who has never cared for her daughter-in-law, tells Holly that unless she wants to destroy her husband's life and career, she should flee the country and never return. Tearfully, Holly follows Estelle's advice, leaving behind her young son. Many years later, Holly has fallen on hard times; addicted to drugs, she scrapes out a meager living as a prostitute in a cheap hotel in Mexico. Devious criminal Dan Sullivan (Burgess Meredith) tries to involve Holly in a blackmail scheme; at the last minute, she finds out that Clay is the target, and she kills Sullivan. She cannot afford to hire a lawyer to defend her, so she is assigned a dedicated young public defender, whom she soon recognizes as her son, Clay Anderson, Jr. (Keir Dullea). Not wanting Clay, Jr. to know her true identity, Holly is tried as "Madame X," but she has trouble keeping her composure given the trial and her mixed joy and shame at seeing her son. Madame X was Constance Bennett's first film in 12 years and the last she would ever make; she died of a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after completing her work on the picture, nine months before it was released. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: David Lowell Rich
Written By: Jean Holloway
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Apr 27, 1966 Wide
On DVD: Feb 5, 2008

Critic Reviews

Rob Nelson, City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul
Completed the same year as the star's first face-lift, Madame X viciously spans two dozen years, inspiring one gossip columnist of the time to joke that Constance Bennett looked younger without makeup than Turner did with it.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Director David Lowell Rich, a television director, helms it as if to make it as archaic, sudsy and corny as humanly possible.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Latter day Lana is a richly appointed trash wallow, with a strong performance given by the star and a chic one by Constance Bennett, if that's what you're in the mood for you'll be very satisfied.

Cast

            Lana Turner as Holly Parker

            John Forsythe as Clay Anderson

            Ricardo Montalban as Phil Benton

            Burgess Meredith as Dan Sullivan

            Constance Bennett as Estelle Anderson

            Keir Dullea as Clay Anderson Jr.

            John Van Dreelen as Christian Torben

            Virginia Grey as Mimsy

            Warren Stevens as Michael Spalding

            Carl Benton Reid as Judge

            Teddy Quinn as Clay Jr. as a Boy

            Frank Maxwell as Dr. Evans

            Kaaren Verne as Nurse Riborg

            Joe De Santis as Carter

            Frank Marth as Detective Combs

            Bing Russell as Sgt. Riley

            Teno Pollick as Manuel Lopez

            Jeff Burton as Bromley

            Jill Jackson as Police Matron

            Neil Hamilton as Party Guest

            Rodolfo Hoyos Jr. as Patron

            Duncan McLeod as Official

            Mark Miranda as Mexican Boy

            Ruben Moreno
            
            Richard Tretter as Merchant Marine

            Byrd Holland as Cronyn the Butler

            Brad Logan
            
            George Dega as Man

            Paul Bradley as Dancing Extra
See full cast