Madame X 1966

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Madame X ★★½ Absinthe 1966

Lonely diplomat's wife Holly (Turner) has a fling with playboy Phil (Montalban) who dies in her presence. Her nasty mother-in-law (Bennett in her last role) advises her to skedaddle or ruin hubby Clay's (Forsythe) career. She leaves her young son and eventually winds up a prostitute in Mexico where she falls in with slimy crook Sullivan (Meredith). Holly winds up killing him and goes on trial as Madame X. Oftfilmed melodrama works because of Turner's heartfelt and affecting performance. 100m/C VHS . Lana Turner, John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban, Burgess Meredith, Virginia Grey, Constance Bennett, Keir Dullea; D: David Lowell Rich; W: Jean Holloway; C: Russell Metty; M: Frank Skinner.