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Summary

A young, unfaithful wife and mother is thrown out by her cold, unforgiving husband, the Attorney General of France. She is barred from ever seeing her three year old son again despite her earnest attempts to make amends. For many years the mother seeks refuge overseas and in Absinthe. In the end, her son, a young and promising lawyer unknowingly defends her in court. Ruth Chatterton gives a marvelous performance in this early talkie in her portrayal of Madame X.

Cast

Ruth Chatterton

Jacqueline Floriot

Lewis Stone

Louis Floriot

Raymond Hackett

Raymond Floriot

Sidney Toler

Dr. Merivel

Carroll Nye

Darrell, a Naval Officer

Eugenie Besserer

Rose, Floriot's Servant

Chappell Dossett

Judge

Claude King

Valmorin, the Prosecutor

Richard Carle

Perissard

John P. Edington

Doctor

Mitchell Lewis

Colonel Hanby

Holmes Herbert

Noel

Henry Armetta

Hotel Owner (uncredited)

Agostino Borgato

Hotel Porter (uncredited)

Jack Chefe

Nightclub Waiter (uncredited)

Ronnie Cosby

Boy at Puppet Show (uncredited)

Carrie Daumery

Dining Room Guest (uncredited)

Derry Dee

Boy at Puppet Show (uncredited)

Edith Fellows

Child at Puppet Show (uncredited)

Frankie Genardi

Boy at Puppet Show (uncredited)

Mary Gordon

Nursemaid (uncredited)

Sydney Jarvis

Gendarme at Trial (uncredited)

Sôjin Kamiyama

Oriental Doctor (uncredited)

Dickie Moore

Boy at Puppet Show (uncredited)

Douglas Scott

Raymond - as a Small Boy (uncredited)

Philip Sleeman

Sidewalk Cafe Waiter (uncredited)

Ullrich Haupt

Laroque

Crew

Director

Lionel Barrymore

Dialogue

Willard Mack

Theatre Play

Alexandre Bisson

Reviews

fbacher

April 5, 2018

A fantastic story and excellent performance, given that this is an early (1929) talkie. Yes, the film suffers from the technical limitations of the time (audio, fixed lenses and single camera shots) as well as an acting style which is in the transition from silent to talkie, but these are fairly easy to overlook. Actually the sound is quite good. Many films suffered from clomping on every footstep, this one does not.