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Madame X

Madame X is the title of several movies, all with the same plot. A woman is thrown out of her home by her jealous husband and sinks into depravity. Twenty years later, she finds herself accused of murder for saving her son, who does not know who she is. He finds himself defending her without knowing her background. All are adaptations of the novel and play La Femme X by Alexandre Bisson.

The 1916 version stars Dorothy Donnelly, John Bowers, Edwin Forsberg and Ralph Morgan. It was directed by George F. Marion.

The 1920 version stars Pauline Frederick, William Courtleigh and Casson Ferguson. It was adapted by J.E. Nash and Frank Lloyd. It was directed by Lloyd.

One of the more famous versions is from 1929. It stars Ruth Chatterton, Lewis Stone and Raymond Hackett. It was adapted by Willard Mack and directed by Lionel Barrymore. It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ruth Chatterton) and Best Director.

The 1937 stars Gladys George, Warren William, John Beal and Reginald Owen. It was adapted by John Meehan and directed by Sam Wood and Gustav Machatư.

The 1948 version was called The Trial of Madame X. It stars Mara Russell-Tavernan, Paul England, Frank Hawkins and Eddie Leslie. It was adapted and directed by England.

The 1954 Greek language version was called I Agnostos. It stars Madame Kyveli, Vana Filippidou, Giorgos Pappas and Alekos Alexandrakis. It was adapted and directed by Orestis Laskos.

The 1966 version stars Lana Turner, John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban and Burgess Meredith. It was adapted by Jean Holloway and directed by David Lowell Rich.

In 1981 a television version was produced. It starred Eleanor Parker, Granville Van Dusen and Tuesday Weld. In this version the child is a daughter instead of a son. It was adapted by Edward Anhalt and directed by Robert Ellis Miller.


Madame X is also the title of a portrait by John Singer Sargent of a young female socialite, charecterized by a pale fleshtone and considered by some to suggest a prostitute.