The Sin of Madelon Claudet

The Sin of Madelon Claudet

Year: 1931

Runtime: 75 mins

Language: English

Director: Edgar Selwyn

Drama

Out of jail for a crime she did not commit, Madelon turns to prostitution and thievery to send her illegitimate son to medical school.

Melancholic
Bittersweet ending
Emotionally heavy
Medium intensity
Steady pacing
Moderate complexity

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Timeline & Setting – The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century to post-World War I era (roughly 1878–1919)

The story spans the final decades of the 19th century and the early 20th century, culminating in 1919 when Madelon is released. It reflects changing social roles for women and the upheavals following World War I. The era’s rigid morals, gender expectations, and evolving charitable systems frame her journey from romance to hardship and sacrifice.

Location

France, United States

The film travels between France and the United States, tracing a transatlantic arc from late 19th century society to the post-World War I era. In France, Madelon’s early life and romantic entanglements unfold amid social constraints and class pressures. In the United States, institutions like boarding schools and charity shape her fate as she fights to provide for her son.

🇫🇷 France 🌍 Transatlantic setting 🕰️ Period piece

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Main Characters – The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)

Meet the key characters of The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Madelon Claudet (Helen Hayes)

A French woman whose life is marked by romance, social judgment, and relentless strive to care for her son. She endures imprisonment on false charges and navigates poverty, aging, and moral scrutiny with quiet tenacity. Her arc centers on self-sacrifice for her child and a longing for dignity.

🎭 Drama 💔 Tragic heroine

Larry Maynard (Neil Hamilton)

Madelon’s American boyfriend who urges her to run away with him but ultimately betrays her by returning to the U.S. and marrying someone else. His actions trigger a chain of consequences that shape Madelon’s fate.

💔 Romantic betrayal 🎨 Artist

Count Carlo Boretti (Lewis Stone)

A wealthy but troubled figure who becomes Madelon’s lover and later her fiancé, only to be arrested for jewel theft and to commit suicide. His arrest catalyzes Madelon’s imprisonment and the collapse of their relationship.

💎 Crime 💔 Tragic fate

Dr. Dulac (Jean Hersholt)

A physician who interrupts a crisis by recounting Madelon’s life and provides a window into the circumstances that drive her choices. He embodies the medical establishment and the power of storytelling to moralize a life.

🏥 Medicine 📚 Storytelling

Dr. Claudet (Robert Young)

A physician who, even if initially unaware of Madelon’s true identity, becomes instrumental in caring for her later and supports her son’s future once he learns the truth. His involvement embodies medical ethics and compassion.

🏥 Medicine 👀 Recognition

Alice (Karen Morley)

The neglected wife who contemplates leaving her doctor husband, highlighting themes of marital strain and female independence. Her openness to Madelon’s story culminates in a moment of generosity when she invites her to share the family’s life.

💔 Domestic drama 🫶 Generosity

Victor Lebeau (Cliff Edwards)

A loyal confidant who helps care for Madelon’s son, representing steadfast friendship and protective male kinship in a world of social vulnerability.

👨‍👦 Family 🤝 Support

Rosalie (Marie Prevost)

Madelon’s friend who assists and stands by her through tough times, illustrating female solidarity within a society that penalizes women’s choices.

👭 Friendship 🕊️ Sacrifice

Hubert (Alan Hale)

A farmer who marries Madelon after she refuses to surrender her son, but their union dissolves under social and economic pressures, forcing her deeper into independence and hardship.

👨‍🌾 Marriage 💔 Social norms

Mr. Claudet (Russ Powell)

Father of Madelon’s child, whose influence contributes to the pressure she faces around marriage and social acceptance within her family.

👴 Patriarchy 👨‍👧 Family

Photographer (Charles Winninger)

A supporting character in the social world surrounding Madelon, helping to illustrate the era’s cosmopolitan fabric and its layered relationships.

🖼️ Social milieu 📸 Era flavor

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

Major Themes – The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)

Explore the central themes of The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👩‍👧 Motherhood

Madelon’s bond with her son drives much of the plot, highlighting a mother’s resolve to secure her child’s future. Her choices are filtered through a fear of passing crime or poverty onto her child. The film treats motherhood as both a source of dignity and a battlefield against social stigma. Her sacrifices reflect the costs women bear to protect their families.

⚖️ Injustice

Despite her innocence, Madelon is convicted as an accomplice to a jewel thief, underscoring a biased system that punishes women for association as much as for action. The legal judgment persists even when truth emerges, illustrating a miscarriage of justice. The theme critiques how gender and class can seal a woman's fate.

💪 Resilience

Across hardship and humiliation, Madelon endures poverty, ostracism, and theft to sustain her son’s education. She adapts to changing circumstances, accepting roles society deems degrading without surrendering her goal. The arc celebrates stubborn endurance and the idea that perseverance can eventually lead to redemption.

🤝 Support and kinship

Friends, doctors, and caretakers sustain Madelon through her trials—Rosalie, Victor Lebeau, and the medical professionals who reveal her truth. The eventual kindness of Dr. Claudet and a family offering sanctuary show how compassion can override stigma. The film emphasizes social networks as lifelines for marginalized women.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:29

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Movies about maternal sacrifice like The Sin of Madelon Claudet

Emotionally heavy dramas about the incredible lengths mothers go to for their children.If you were moved by the immense sacrifices in The Sin of Madelon Claudet, you'll find similar powerful stories here. This list features movies that explore the heartbreaking and resilient journeys of mothers who endure hardship for their children's sake.

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These narratives often follow a linear path, chronicling a mother's struggles over many years. The central conflict is typically between societal judgment or personal degradation and the unwavering goal of providing for a child. The story builds emotional weight through a steady accumulation of hardships, culminating in a bittersweet resolution where the child's success is paid for by the mother's immense personal cost.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist who is wronged by society, often through injustice or harsh judgment. To survive and achieve a distant goal, they are forced into a life of degradation or crime. The story is a slow, steady chronicle of their endurance, focusing on their internal resilience against external cruelty, and often concludes with a hard-won, ambiguous, or bittersweet sense of redemption.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their shared melancholic tone, focus on social judgment and class struggle, and their portrayal of a protagonist's resilient journey from degradation towards a fragile redemption. They offer a similarly somber, emotionally taxing, yet compelling view of human endurance.

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The Sin of Madelon Claudet Summary

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The Sin of Madelon Claudet Timeline

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