Customer Reviews

Madame X

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lana Turner stars as Holly Parker, a shop clerk who marries a wealthy man (John Forsythe) with political ambitions. She loves him, but his long absences drive her into the arms of a slimy playboy (Ricardo Montalban) and her mother-in-law knows all about it.

This was the third Ross Hunter-Lana Turner movie and like the others, it features a glamorous woman in designer gowns who lives in a palatial estate, has her heart broken and it's all delivered with much sudsy melodrama. This film has even more to offer: The star allows herself to appear old and pathetically, even grotesquely ugly and gives a genuinely heart-tugging performance. Don't watch the trailer first, as it spoils the whole story and it's a really good script with lots of dramatic twists and turns and an ending that left me sobbing.

Lana Turner is good in the role of outsider-turned-socialite and Forsythe and Montalban are, too. Keir Dullea is well-cast as an attorney and Burgess Meredith excels as a loathsome criminal. The story is poignant and should ring true to all parents and children. Recommended.

How this video has not made it to DVD is a mystery to me. Lana Turner shines like she never has before in this depiction of Holly Anderson.

I really hope that the movie distributers will look at this and put it on DVD ; as I know it will sell like hotcakes. I mean look at the VHS price 29.90 and up.!!

This is, without a doubt, a classic. Lana Turner, Constance Bennett and John Forsythe turn in award winning performances. I recommend it whole-heartedly, not only for adults, but for teens as well. This movie not only is compelling and suspenseful, it sets the mind in motion to discuss the ramifications of our actions.

I saw this movie when I was maybee 13 years old, around 1969. I always remembered this movie as it made me cry. I watched it again years later and still loved it. I want to buy it and I also agree with the other person who said the movie should be made in a DVD format. I would buy it for sure.

Lana Turner is terrific as the pawn of destiny in this elaborate soap opera; it's a plot that could fill five seasons of daytime drama, all wrapped up in one improbable but incredibly entertaining film. It isn't Shakespeare, but for suds, it's tops.
Turner plays Holly Parker, the "little shop girl from San Francisco" who marries a man of immense wealth and ambition, and as a package deal, along with the mansion in Connecticut comes his implacable mother, who has plans for sonny boy, and tells Holly she should have "stayed on the other side of the counter".

John Forsythe plays Holly's husband Clay Anderson with charm and elegance, and Keir Dullea is their grown son. Ricardo Montalban (who starred with Turner 13 years earlier in the charming comedy "Latin Lovers") is the man who tries to seduce her, and Estelle, the scheming mother, is played to the hilt by Constance Bennett, in what was to be her last film.
Burgess Meredith does a marvelous turn as a slimy character Holly meets in a Mexican motel, and the way the rooms are decorated in these scenes is priceless; kudos also go to the make-up department in this section of the film, and Ms. Turner's ability to transform herself. This film proves that she was exceedingly underrated as an actress.

Well paced direction by David Lowell Rich, a lovely score by Frank Skinner, and lavish gowns by Jean Louis make this a memorable melodrama, and save your biggest hanky for the end, which though contrived, is still good for many heartfelt sobs. Total running time is 100 minutes.

Excellent drama which should have resulted in Turner winning an Oscar,shame though she didn't. There have been many so called attempts in the last 30 years to make romantic dramas popular again,granted there has been a a few but this version of Madame X is a bone fide tearjerker and first class movie. The VHS copy is very good,and hopefully it will soon get a much deserved DVD release

There has never been, and will never be, a film that better depicts life's happiest and saddest events. The movie opens with ex-salesgirl, newlywed Holly Anderson (Lana Turner) being welcome to the Anderson mansion and meeting her live-in mother-in-law. Her husband, Clay Anderson (John Forsythe), is a rich, politician-on-the-rise. They live the life of the socially prominent, always mindful of their public images. Soon, an heir is born and Holly is a perfect mother. But to be successful, Clay must, and does, travel extensively. Lonely and bored, Holly succumbs to friends' urgings and fullfills her social obligations on the arm of a single, male friend. This causes a series of tragedies, culminating in a surprise twist, and an ending that only a rock could get through without crying. In her role as Holly Anderson, Lana Turner exposes the depths of a woman's soul and the expesses the breadth of a woman's love. If I could, I would give this movie ten stars.

This is one of, if not the greatest movies of all time. All players are magnificant. The music score is excellent. This movie is all-around Amaziingly wonderful.

This one'll tug at your heart strings (if you have a heart). Ricardo Montalban gives a pretty good (though short) performance as well as John Forsythe, Constance Bennett and of course the glamorous and delightful (though decidedly un-so in this film) Miss Turner. Oh and let's not forget Burgess Meredith (viscious)!

If you like this film you'll also enjoy "Waterloo Bridge" with Janet Leigh and Robert Taylor.

To know how this movie will effect you is to know something about me. I've worked on the stage a good portion of my life in all kinds of emotional settings. I'm tatooed, a biker, into the leather scene, really nice guy but hardcore in all my endeavers.......But seeing this movie turns me to MUSH!!!I can not get thru this film without a serious cry. This is the ultimate cry film. Your heart, as long as you have one, will break by the end of this film. It's the most wonderful Lana Turner film out. Of course "Imatation of Life" is a close second.If you want to sit and sob and sob get this film. It will make you a better man.