THE SIN OF MADELON CLAUDET

US, 1931, 75 minutes, Black and white.
Helen Hayes, Lewis Stone, Neil Hamilton, Robert Young, Cliff Edwards, Jean Hersholt, Karen Morley, Charles Winninger, Alan Hale, Halliwell Hobbs.
Directed by Edgar Selwyn.

The Sin of Madelon Claudet is a typical enough plot for the 1930s, seen in the several versions of Madame X, and various melodramas with Kay Francis, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck.

The setting is Paris, something similar to that of Seventh Heaven for which Janet Gaynor won an Oscar. Helen Hayes won her Oscar for this film (later winning another in 1974 for Best Supporting Actress in Airport). She has to age from the young girl on the farm, to mother, to mistress of the wealthy count, to 10 years in prison, to going on the streets, becoming coarsened and older to the point of despair.

Neil Hamilton is the American artist in Paris who abandons her when she is pregnant. Lewis Stone is the count who is exposed for fraud and kills himself. Jean Hersholt is the sympathetic doctor and a very young Robert Young plays her son.

There is a lot of action in the 75 minutes of the running time, but is an opportunity to see a typical melodrama of the 1930s as well as Helen Hayes’ Oscar-winning performance.

1. A film of the 1930s? Drama, the touches of melodrama, ingredients of soap opera? Emotions? Situations and characters?

2. Black-and-white photography, the settings, decor, the times? Paris, France? The musical score?

3. The titles, expectations? Helen Hayes and her Oscar?

4. The popularity of this kind of story, the Madame X story? Mothers, illegitimate children, bringing them up, separation, self-sacrifice?

5. Introduction, the setting, the wife and her anger about her doctor husband, wanting to leave, his ambitions? The old doctor, telling her the story, the flashbacks?

6. Larry, in France, in love with Madelon, her father’s reaction, life in Normandy, the farm, her leaving, in Paris, Larry and his art, her pregnancy? The count, the visitor and the criticism of the paintings?

7. Larry, the message about the US, going back, losing contact with Madelon, his friends, family, marriage?

8. Rose and Victor, with the child, the struggle, work, pay, the visits, the photo opportunity?

9. The count and his life, society, Madelon as his mistress, money, giving away the ring to support Rose and Victor, Victor and his gambling? The count as a person, the proposal, the sudden exposure in the restaurant, killing himself?

10. Madelon in court, being found guilty, sentenced to 10 years, in the prison, with the nuns, work, Rose’s visit? Getting out, free, her hopes?

11. Going to the institution, seeing her son, his success, the discussions with the doctor, visiting the boy, talking, kissing him, telling him his mother was dead?

12. Trying to get jobs, failing, doors shut, on the streets, growing older, getting coarser, clients and clashes, money?

13. Larry, his studies, the friendship with the doctor, Madelon sending the money, his graduation?

14. Madelon and the clash with the police, going to the institution, asking for one more visit, the nurse, the photo, the interview with Larry,
leaving? His finding her, setting her up?

15. Larry, nice, his hard work, the doctors, marrying? The reconciliation with his wife?

16. Brief running time but plenty of plot? And the happy ending?