New film focuses on infamous French sex icon, 'Madame Claude'

Madame Claude was a salacious icon of 20th century Paris – the brothel-keeper to the stars. Photo: Handout

In the 1960s and 1970s, Madame Claude, real name Fernande Grudet, had a client book that read like the guest list to a royal wedding: captains of industry, President John F Kennedy, Marlon Brando, the Shah of Iran ...

There were enough secrets being divulged on her pillows to ensure protection from the authorities, as well as considerable interest from the secret services.