Holly Parker, a lower-class woman, marries into the rich Anderson family, and her husband Clayton is a diplomat with strong political aspirations.

Lonely and reclusive during Clayton's long, frequent assignments abroad, Holly forms a relationship with a well-known playboy, Phil Benton.

Estelle blackmails Holly into disappearing to Europe under a false identity rather than facing murder charges and ruining her husband's political career with the scandal.

Holly, devastated by the loss of her son, falls ill with pneumonia on the side of a European street and is rescued by a charming pianist named Christian who helps her receive medical treatment and recuperate under a nurse's care.

He persuades Holly to join him in New York to work for him, but while there, she realizes that he is actually trying to blackmail Clayton, who is now governor of the state and a leading candidate for his party's presidential nomination.

Clay, in his first trial as a lawyer, devises a defense strategy to paint Sullivan as a career criminal who caused his own death.

Holly takes the stand, admitting that she killed Sullivan to protect her son, who believes her to be dead, so he will not know the type of woman she has become.

While the jury is deliberating, Clay, who has grown close to Holly despite not knowing that she is his mother, visits her in her holding cell and implores her to reach out to her son.

[4] Lana Turner, who had made Imitation of Life and Portrait in Black for Hunter, was enlisted as the film's star from the beginning.

[7] Gig Young was offered the older male lead but asked for too much money, so Hunter hired John Forsythe.

[11] The film contains an original song by Austrian composer and conductor Willy Mattes (also known as Charles Wildman) titled "Love Theme from Madame X" (alternatively named "Swedish Rhapsody").