The Trial of Madame X

Last updated

The Trial of Madame X
The Trial of Madame X film frame (1955).jpg
Mara Russell-Tavernan as Jacqueline
Directed by Paul England
Written byPaul England
Based onplay by Alexandre Bisson (uncredited)
Produced byF. W. Kilner
StarringMara Russell-Tavernan
Paul England
Cinematography Ernest Palmer
Production
companies
Viking Film Studios
London
Release date
  • 1955 (1955)
Running time
54 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Trial of Madame X, also known as Jacqueline, is a 1948 British drama film written and directed by Paul England and starring England and Mara Russell-Tavernan. [1] [2] It was written by England based (uncredited) on the 1908 play Madame X by the French playwright Alexandre Bisson.

Contents

The film was made in 1948 but not released until 1955. [1]

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.

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Old-fashioned novelette of the crudest order, weakly realised and played in such a theatrical fashion that, if the sound were cut off, one might be prepared to believe one was watching a film of the twenties. In a general atmosphere of fervent over-acting or wooden amateurism, only Paul England, as the blackmailing detective, manages to bring any degree of conviction to his part." [3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "It strikes an unhappy note at the start, clumsily piles on the agony and slowly sinks into bathos. Only the very unsophisticated will find the outmoded shenanigans to their liking. ... The picture, poorly dialogued, as well as crudely acted, teems with incongruities." [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Madame X</i> 1908 play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson

Madame X is a 1908 play by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912). It was novelized in English and adapted for the American stage; it was also adapted for the screen twelve times over sixty-five years, including versions in Tagalog, Greek, and Spanish as well as English. The play has been cited as an example of the literary tradition of portraying the mother figure as being "excessively punished for slight deviation from her maternal role".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandre Bisson</span> French playwright and novelist (1848–1912)

Alexandre Bisson was a French playwright, vaudeville creator, and novelist. Born in Briouze, Orne in Lower Normandy, he was successful in his native France as well as in the United States. Remembered as a significant creator of Parisian vaudeville, in collaboration with Edmond Gondinet, Bisson's 1881 three-act comedy Un Voyage d'agrément was performed at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris.

<i>The Blood Beast Terror</i> 1968 British film by Vernon Sewell

The Blood Beast Terror is a 1968 British horror film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Peter Cushing, Robert Flemyng and Wanda Ventham. It was written by Peter Bryan. It was released in the UK by Tigon in February 1968, and in the United States by Pacemaker Pictures on a double-bill with Slaughter of the Vampires (1962).

<i>Madame X</i> (1916 film) 1916 film

Madame X is a lost 1916 American silent drama film directed by George F. Marion that was based on the 1908 play of the same name by French playwright Alexandre Bisson. Dorothy Donnelly, star of the 1910 Broadway production of the play, which was also directed by Marion, reprised her starring role for the film.

<i>Madame X</i> (1920 film) 1920 film

Madame X is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Pauline Frederick. The film is based on the 1908 play Madame X, by French playwright Alexandre Bisson, and was adapted for the screen by J.E. Nash and Frank Lloyd. A copy of this film survives in the George Eastman House Motion Picture Collection.

<i>Madame X</i> (1929 film) 1929 film

Madame X is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lionel Barrymore and starring Ruth Chatterton as a fallen woman who longs to be reunited with her son. The film is based on the 1908 play Madame X by French playwright Alexandre Bisson (1848-1912).

<i>Please Turn Over</i> 1959 British film by Gerald Thomas

Please Turn Over is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Ted Ray, Julia Lockwood, Jean Kent, Joan Sims, Leslie Phillips, Charles Hawtrey, Lionel Jeffries and Victor Maddern. It was written by Norman Hudis based on the 1959 play Book of the Month by Basil Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. An English town is thrown into chaos when the daughter of one of the residents publishes a book detailing the supposed secrets of the inhabitants.

<i>Follow That Horse!</i> 1960 British film by Alan Bromly

Follow That Horse! is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Alan Bromly and starring David Tomlinson, Cecil Parker, Richard Wattis, Mary Peach and Dora Bryan. The screenplay was by Alfred Shaughnessy and William Douglas-Home based on the 1954 novel Photo Finish by Howard Mason.

<i>A Time to Kill</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Charles Saunders

A Time to Kill is a 1955 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Jack Watling, Rona Anderson, John Horsley, Russell Napier, Kenneth Kent, and John Le Mesurier. It was written by Doreen Montgomery.

<i>Double Confession</i> 1950 British film by Ken Annakin

Double Confession is a 1950 British crime film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, William Hartnell and Peter Lorre. The screenplay by William Templeton is based on the 1949 novel All On A Summer's Day by H.L.V. Fletcher.

<i>A Tale of Five Cities</i> 1951 British-Italian film by Romolo Marcellini et al

A Tale of Five Cities is a 1951 British-Italian international co-production comedy drama film directed by Romolo Marcellini, Emil E. Reinert, Wolfgang Staudte, Montgomery Tully, Irma von Cube and Géza von Cziffra. The five cities cited in the title are: Rome, Paris, Berlin, London, and Vienna.

<i>Before I Wake</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Albert S. Rogell

Before I Wake is a 1955 British mystery film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Mona Freeman, Jean Kent and Maxwell Reed. It was shot at Walton Studios in Surrey, with sets designed by the art director Scott MacGregor. This was director Rogell's final film.

<i>Keep It Clean</i> 1956 British film by David Paltenghi

Keep It Clean is a 1956 British black-and-white comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Ronald Shiner and Joan Sims.

<i>Burnt Evidence</i> 1954 British film by Daniel Birt

Burnt Evidence is a 1954 British second feature thriller film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Jane Hylton, Duncan Lamont and Donald Gray. It was produced by Ronald Kinnoch for ACT Films.

<i>Home Sweet Home</i> (1945 film) 1945 British film

Home Sweet Home is a 1945 British musical comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley, written by Roney Parsons and Anthony Toner, and starring Frank Randle, Nicolette Roeg and Tony Pendrell. Set in the fictitious town of Redvale, the film is largely a vehicle for slapstick routines by Randle.

<i>Never Back Losers</i> 1961 British film by Robert Tronson

Never Back Losers is a 1961 British 'B' crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Jack Hedley, Jacqueline Ellis and Patrick Magee. It was written by Lucas Heller based on the 1929 novel The Green Ribbon by Edgar Wallace. It was one of the Edgar Wallace Mysteries series, produced at Merton Park Studios in the early 1960s.

<i>The Nudist Story</i> 1960 British film by Ramsey Harrington

The Nudist Story is a 1960 British second feature ('B') film directed by Ramsey Herrington and starring Shelley Martin and Brian Cobby. It was written by Mark Grantham and produced by The Danzigers.

<i>Stock Car</i> (film) 1955 British film by Wolf Rilla

Stock Car is a 1955 British second feature crime drama film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Paul Carpenter, Rona Anderson, and Susan Shaw.

<i>Johnny on the Spot</i> 1954 British film by Maclean Rogers

Johnny on the Spot is a 1954 British 'B' crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Elspet Gray and Paul Carpenter. It was written by Rogers based on the 1953 novel Paid in Full by Michael Cronin.

Castle Sinister is a 1948 British mystery film directed by Oscar Burn and starring Mara Russell-Tavernan. It is based on the play Mark of Judas by Vance Youden. It was remade in 1954 with the title The Devil's Jest, again starring Mara Russell-Tavernan.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Trial of Madame X". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  2. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 254. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  3. "The Trial of Madame X" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 22 (252): 127. 1 January 1955 via ProQuest.
  4. "The Trial of Madame X" . Kine Weekly . 459 (2504): 40. 23 June 1955 via ProQuest.