The Sin of Madelon Claudet
(The Lullaby -- UK)

US (1931): Drama

Helen Hayes made her sound-film debut in this well-acted soaper scripted by her husband, Charles MacArthur. Dr. Dulac (Jean Hersholt) narrates in flashback the story of Madelon Claudet (Hayes), a French girl who falls in love with Larry Maynard (Neil Hamilton), an American artist. The two move in together without marrying, but their idyllic life is ruined when Hamilton leaves and marries another woman. Hayes then becomes involved with Carlo Boretti (Lewis Stone), but, arrested on jewel theft charges, he kills himself rather than face the law; Madelon, charged as his accomplice, is sentenced to 10 years in prison. On her release, she becomes a streetwalker to support her illegitimate son, Laurence (Robert Young), sending the money to Dulac, a doctor tutoring Laurence in medicine. Laurence is suspicious about the money because of the irregular sums and sporadic deliveries; however, Madelon lies, telling him the money is from the estate of his late mother. Eventually Laurence becomes a successful doctor, setting Madelon up in a Parisian apartment. The film ends as Dulac finishes his narration. He has been telling the story to Laurence's wife, a woman upset by her husband's devotion to his career. She had been considering leaving him, but after hearing Madelon's story, the woman reconsiders.

Hayes won a well-deserved Oscar® for this performance, taking her character from young girl to old woman with astonishing believability. The story piles twist upon emotional twist, coming close to self-parody, but audiences of the day loved the picture. The story had been made numerous times under the title MADAME X. Two silent versions were made in 1915 and 1920, while sound versions were made in 1929, 1937, 1948, 1960 (as THE TRIAL OF MADAME X), 1966, and l98l as a television film. -- TVGuide.com

· Actress 1931-32: Helen Hayes

1 nomination, 1 Award