"MADAME X."

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 82, 7 April 1938, Page 14

"MADAME X."

Attraction for Majestic, • ■

Conveying all. the unrorgettable qualities of the original stage drama, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's screen version of "Madame X" opens at the Majestic Theatre tomorrow, with Gladys George in the title role. The story has been advanced into more modern dress, but it remains essentially the same as Alexandre Bisson wrote it. The memorable Court-room scene is more dramatic on the ■ screen than it was on the stage, thanks, of course, to the greater facilities of the studio. John Beal is excellent as the son who defends his mother from a murder charge, not knowing her identity, and Warren William scores as the husband. Miss George is superb throughout, appearing in the early sequences a beautiful woman of the world, later to become a broken thing on the relentless wheel of circumstance. The sterling supporting cast includes Reginald Owen, William Henry, Henry Daniell, Phillip Reed, Lynne Carver, Emma Dunn, Ruth Hussey, Luis Alburni, George Zucco, and Cora Witherspoon. Sam Wood directed. It was he who directed "Within the Law," "Stamboul Quest," and many other distinguished dramas, then turned his versatile ability towards comedy with the Marx Brothers. This ! marks his return to drama and his direction is extremely competent. "Madame X" is the same tense drama that it was on the stage, but the screen has improved it. The story travels from the Riviera to Paris, then to New Orleans and always the scenes are lovely with the atmosphere that means so much to the narrative.