1948.
"So, Evil" was the story of a conniving dame nicknamed "Evil" who rose to the top using any lowdown trick she possibly could. A role that Madra Lord played to the hilt.

Madra was one of the savviest actress in Hollywood. She had her finger on the pulse of the public and knew how to balance her roles to keep her fans guessing: good girl or bad girl; naughty or nice.

But the best thing about Madra was that she not only knew how to pick a role -- she could play it. After all, her rise to Hollywood fame had been one of playing one role after another. The minute she left Milwaukee behind (along with her old name, "Mabel Lorkovic") to become Madra Lord, she kept reinventing herself as the situation or mood allowed.

Evil? No. But Madra held a certain sympathy and respect for Evil's character in "So, Evil" -- which meant she brought a certain degree of humanity to what could have been just another stock nasty character.

Maybe the most telling moment in the film came when Evil was finally confronted by the man she'd led on until she finally got what she wanted from him -- then dumped him.

"You are so evil, my love," he said as he took her in his arms for a final farewell.
"Yes, but oh so good when I am," Evil replied.
And from the sincerity in Madra's delivery, you could tell that she meant it.