Madame X (1966)

A diplomat's wife, forced to abandon her identity to protect her family, spirals into tragedy and ends up on trial for murder — defended by her own son, who does not know she is his mother.

This 1966 melodrama follows Holly Parker, whose life unravels after a man pursuing her dies accidentally, prompting her mother-in-law to demand she vanish under a new name. Years of drifting and heartbreak lead to a killing, and Holly stands trial as the mysterious 'Madame X', refusing to reveal who she really is even when her son — now a public defender — takes her case. Directed by David Lowell Rich, the film stars Lana Turner, with John Forsythe, Ricardo Montalban and Burgess Meredith among the supporting cast.