Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

---

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

A tribute to the 1966 Ross Hunter production of Alexandre Bisson's "Madame X", which many consider contains Lana Turner's finest performance. As Holly Anderson, the wife of Clayton Anderson (John Forsythe), she has connections to society and wealth, but her husband's work as a politician leaves him little time for his wife and young son. Lonely and bored during Clay's long absences, Holly unwisely begins an affair with womanizing Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban) but when she comes to her senses and tries to end the relationship, tragedy strikes when he accidently dies during the ensuing quarrel. Her evil mother-in-law, Estelle (Constance Bennett, in her last role) uses this information to blackmail Holly into leaving Clay and their child by faking her death. Poor Holly falls further and further into a downward spiral of boozing and prostitution until sleazy extortionist Dan Sullivan (Burgess Meredith) discovers her true identity and threatens to let her precious son learn what really became of his mother. This leads Holly to commit murder and when taken into custody, she refuses to identify herself, so she is referred to as Madame X. She then stands trial, only to be defended by her now grown son (Keir Dullea). A dramatic moment in the courtroom leads Holly, Clay Sr and Estelle to recognize each other, but the ailing Holly doesn't let her son know that she is his mother in a truly touching and heartbreaking finale. Clay Jr tells his father, "I loved her from the first moment I saw her" to which his father replies, "I know." And let me just say that if you aren't tearing up by the end of the film, you are made of stone! The film also features Turner's long-time friend and costar, Virginia Grey and John Van Dreelen. The music is by Frank Skinner, the film's main title theme.