CommentsXp Best movie ever!

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Arianna Moses Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Marva It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

kimchietalueng No more word to say, a must see for all cine fans. A fantastic storyboard, an a brillant spectacle performance. This movie has all: dramaturgy, crime, romance, suspense and an insight into the wickedness of humanity.

a_chinn Lana Turner is accused of murder when her lover, Ricardo Montalban, falls down a flight of stairs during a fight. The drama doesn't stop their because her attorney doesn't realized that he's actually her son! At another point, she also tries to fake her own death, if you didn't realize you were in one of producer Ross Hunter's lushly produced melodramas. What I found most interesting watching this film is comparing it to the Douglas Sirk directed Ross Hunter productions (i.e. "All that Heaven Allows," "Imitation fo Life," "There's Always Tomorrow," etc.), which gave me a much greater appreciation for what Sirk brought to his films. Sirks' films and "Madame X" are equally soapy of material, but Sirk's use of lighting, staging, and camera movement are so much better than what director David Lowell Rich does behind the camera here. Rich was primarily a TV director and the blandness of his direction is plainly on display with unoriginal montages, weak use of dramatic zooms, and most importantly a lack of any meaningful subtext. Sirks' film always had something to say, but "Madame X" seemed purely surface level. Overall, this is only worth watching for the lush production values and for the cast, which besides Turner and Montalban includes John Forsythe and Burgess Meredith.

jfarms1956 Madame X is a film best enjoyed by baby boomers and for those who can understand a mother's sacrificial love for her child and family. I am a romantic at heart and I always cry when I see this movie. This movie is not intended for children. I truly love this film. It is much, much better than the 1937 version of Madame X. The movie took a few minutes to draw me in. But I was hooked once bad things started to happen. I love the last scenes in the movie. This is where I always cry. Lana Turner was perfect in this role. Lana Turner's transformation was incredible. Beauty becomes a beast with a deep love hidden in her heart and then transforms into a paragon of motherhood. The director used his camera and lighting well. The musical background is perfect. This is a late night film or a rainy day film where you can blame your wet eyes at the end on the rain. No popcorn here. Just a glass of wine to enjoy this movie with.

phillindholm Not just women, but men, too, will be drawn into this touching and gripping drama. This is, at least the fifth version of the classic story which tells of a woman's overwhelming love for the Husband and Son from whom she was cruelly parted. Lana Turner plays Holly Parker, whose marriage to Blueblood Clayton Anderson (John Forsythe) propels her into a world of wealth and power. Though the marriage is happy, and produces a son,Clay Jr, (Teddy Quinn/Keir Dullea), her husband's political ambitions and long absences tempt her into an affair with Playboy Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban). When he is accidentally killed, Holly's Aristocratic (and opportunistic) Mother-In-law, Estelle (Constance Bennett) who, from the start, considered her an inferior (and hired a private detective to shadow her) moves in for the kill,using the threat of a potential scandal to blackmail her into leaving the country.She quickly provides Holly with a new identity, and financial support. Things go from bad to worse for Holly from there, as she wanders aimlessly around the world attempting, without success, to forget the blow fate has dealt her. Alcoholism and prostitution soon follow, as does slimy character Dan Sullivan (Burgess Meredith) who tries to profit from her past-leading to a climax which allows Turner to do some of the best work of her career. Producer Ross Hunter, who favored aging Stars from the past (Jane Wyman, Barbara Stanwyck Ann Sheridan and Joan Bennett were some) also loved remaking Soap Operas in High Style, though the films were actually made on low budgets. The costumes, the gorgeous Technicolor photography (by veteran Russell Metty) the glittering jewels and the impressive lineup of big Names helped considerably to disguise the fact that this was almost all filmed on the Universal Lot. Turner had worked with Hunter before on the very successful ''Imitation Of Life, and ''Portrait In Black'.' ''Madame X'' was their third collaboration.By the 1960's though, the plot was considered out of date, and the film was a financial failure. When it was first shown on TV, however, it garnered a huge audience, who were able to fully appreciate it, and it's success there may well have paved the way for nighttime soaps like ''Dallas'' and ''Falcon Crest''.Although it's unmistakably Turner's vehicle, the hand picked supporting cast is excellent. Alas, it was 30's star Bennett's last film,but, (looking radiant) she made the most of it. The direction by David Lowell Rich was equally fine, and the Production, especially the music score by Frank Skinner, was perfect. Lana, though showing her age in the early scenes, (in fact, she looks downright matronly when she is supposed to be a young bride) redeems herself by the finale, giving a heart-wrenching performance at her trial.Both she and Dullea are truly touching. And those viewers who can surrender their cynicism and just enjoy the story for what it is- Soap Opera Par Excellance, will be amply rewarded. Madame X was remade yet again (in 1981) with Tuesday Weld in the Title Role-she proved up to the task, but, for my money, this version is unbeatable.