Sadie Thompson
Encyclopedia
Sadie Thompson is an American silent film
that tells the story of a "fallen woman" who comes to Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila
to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in San Francisco
. The film stars Gloria Swanson
, Lionel Barrymore
, and Raoul Walsh
, and was one of Swanson's better known silent films. The making of the film was extremely controversial. However, it was a financial and critical success for Swanson, one of her last. The film was based on the short story "Rain" by author W. Somerset Maugham and the 1923 play of the same name by John Colton
and Clemence Randolph.
Sadie begins to fall in love with Sergeant Timothy O'Hara (Raoul Walsh), who isn’t fazed by her past. He tells her that he has a best friend who married a former prostitute and the couple now lives happily in Australia.
Davidson sets about trying to 'redeem' Sadie, much to her disgust. She doesn't see why she should have to answer to him above anyone else; finding himself self-important. Davidson tricks her into telling him about her past in San Francisco and, once she refuses to repent, he declares that he will go to the Governor and have her deported. Sadie is terrified of the idea but O'Hara assures her that it won't happen. He tells her he wishes she would go to Australia and wait for his term of service to finish, after which they'll marry. This they both agree upon.
Davidson gets his way, however, and Sadie is livid. She and O'Hara go to plead with the Governor, begging him to let her go to Australia instead of back to San Francisco. Once we find Davidson has also managed to get O'Hara punished for being immoral, we're told that Sadie will be able to go to Australia instead, but only if Davidson okays it. Davidson refuses and Sadie pleads, but to no avail. She eventually confesses that, if she goes back to San Francisco, there is 'a man there who won't let her go straight', which is what she wants to do. Davidson figures out this means that there is a warrant for her arrest back in San Francisco. Sadie claims that she was framed and is innocent, but it won't matter since, if she ends up in San Francisco, she'll have to go to prison nonetheless.
Davidson still refuses, saying she must atone for her past. Sadie pleads and pleads and eventually offers to repent. Davidson, however, says that her offer of repentance doesn’t matter and that the only way to fully repent is for her to go to prison. Sadie runs to her room, crying out for Davidson. Davidson returns and Sadie confesses she is afraid. Davidson then tells her that, if she repents, there will be nothing to fear and he begins to pray with her. Sadie converts to Christianity.
Three days later, we're told that Sadie has been praying the entire time. She has put away her old things and has become a modest woman. O'Hara returns and finds Davidson is gone, apparently 'trying to stop the locals from dancing on the beach'. O'Hara tells Sadie that he has a fishing boat waiting to take her and her things to a ship, that will then take her to Australia, where they can marry and be free. Sadie is extremely afraid and refuses to go, saying that 'old Sadie is dead' and she must go to San Francisco and prison, to repent. She fully relies and believes in Davidson now.
O'Hara does everything he can, including forcibly taking her from the room, but Davidson is waiting outside. O'Hara tries to attack him but Sadie asks him not to, so he doesn’t. O'Hara, extremely upset, leaves and Sadie pleads with Davidson not to get him in trouble, for 'it was all her fault'. She has become childlike and dependent on Davidson.
Later that night, Sadie is asleep and everyone else is heading to bed. Davidson can not sleep and goes out for a walk in the rain. (It has rained throughout almost the entire film.) His wife says he can’t sleep for 'the unpleasant dreams he’s been having about Miss Thompson'. A fellow boarder suspects they aren’t 'all that unpleasant'. Outside, Davidson is struggling with himself and realizes that he is sexually attracted to Sadie and unable to handle it. He looks into her window and eventually is able to return inside to his room.
Sadie, frightened because she heard noises, is waiting in Davidson's room. Davidson is shocked and sends her back to her room. Here the last reel is missing but the rest of the film apparently included Davidson jumping into the ocean and killing himself, unable to handle his conflicted passions. A fisherman finds his body. Sadie and O'Hara reconcile and head for Australia.
, The Love of Sunya
which was filmed on her terms in New York
and was the opening night film of the Roxy Theatre. The production had been a disaster and Swanson felt it would perform mediocre at best. On the advice of Joseph Schenck
she relented and returned to Hollywood to prepare for a new picture.
Feeling she would never have as much artistic freedom and independence as she had at that moment, Swanson decided she, "Wanted to make my Gold Rush
." Schenck pleaded with her to do a commercially successful film like The Last of Mrs. Cheyney. Swanson felt it too formulaic and decided to call upon director Raoul Walsh
who was signed with Fox Film Corporation at the time.
Walsh had been known for bringing controversial material to film. At the first meeting, Swanson suggested a film based on the John Colton
and Clemence Randolph play Rain (1923) which in turn was based on the story by W. Somerset Maugham
titled Miss Thompson (1921). Swanson had seen Jeanne Eagels
perform the role on stage twice and enjoyed it.
However, because of its content, producing the film under the tight restrictions of the Hays Code would be almost impossible. The play was on the 'unofficial blacklist' and had quietly been banned from filmmaking a year earlier. To try and avoid issues with the code Swanson and Walsh decided to leave out profanity, rename 'Reverend Davidson' to 'Mr. Davidson', and claim it was in the sake of morality to produce the picture as Irving Thalberg
had produced The Scarlet Letter
(1926) at MGM.
Swanson invited Will Hays for lunch and summarized the plot, naming the author and the sticking points. According to Swanson, Hays made a verbal promise that he would have no problem with the making of such a film. Swanson set about getting the rights to the play by having Schenck pretend to buy it in the name of United Artists
never to be used. Thus they were able to get the story rights for $60,000 instead of the original $100,000.
When news broke just what was intended with the play the three authors threatened to sue. However, Swanson later contacted Maugham about rights to a sequel and he offered to do so for $25,000. Maugham claimed Fox had asked about a sequel the same time Swanson had bought the original stories rights. The sequel would involve following what became of Sadie in Australia but was never made.
Swanson and Walsh set about writing the script, and discreetly placed an ad announcing the film thinking no one noticed as Charles Lindbergh
had just made his historic flight. However, the press picked up on it and sensationalized the story. United Artists
received a threatening two-page telegram from the MPAA signed by all its members including Fox (Walsh's studio) and Hays himself. In addition, the rest of the signors owned several thousand movies houses and if they refused to screen the film it could be a financial disaster. Ironically, this was the first time Swanson had heard the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, who she would later have an affair with and who would finance her next few pictures including Queen Kelly
(1929).
Swanson was angered by the response as she felt those very studios had produced 'questionable' films themselves and were jealous at not having the chance to produce Rain. After another threatening telegram she decided to first appeal to MPAA, and then the newspapers. She only heard back from Marcus Loew
who promised to appeal on her behalf, and since he had a chain of theatres this eased some of her concerns. Figuring the silence meant the matter had been dropped, Swanson began filming on Sadie Thompson, which already had a quarter of a million dollars invested in it.
had been first picked to play Davidson but was thought to be too ill at the time though he did eventually win the role. Barrymore wore the same outfit for an entire week, aggravating Swanson. She asked some of the crew to tell him to change and wash; which he did indeed do. Despite this Swanson was happy with his performance. Walsh hadn't acted in front of a camera in 8 years and feared he wouldn't be able to both direct and act at the same time. However 2 days into filming his fears were quelled.
Filming took place on Santa Catalina Island
near Long Beach, California
. Swanson took ill shortly after and met a doctor who started her life long love of macrobiotic diets. A week into shooting Sam Goldwyn called cameraman George Barnes away. Swanson was furious but the loan contract had allowed Goldwyn to call him away as he pleased. Not wanting to let a hundred extras sit around for days Swanson and Walsh tried to hire another two cameramen but both were unsatisfactory. Mary Pickford
had offered the services of her favorite cameraman Charles Rosher
who was called in but despite doing a decent job couldn't match Barnes work. Through Loew MGM loaned Oliver Marsh who completed the picture.
The entire cameraman experience was extremely costly to the production, yet the picture went on. With the picture half finished it was already way over budget and Schenck was wary, as Swanson's first picture had also been overbudget and underperformed. Swanson talked with her advisors and sold her farm Croton-on-Hudson, and offered to sell her New York penthouse as well.
Despite reports that dirty words can be read on the characters' lips, Swanson claims the censors went over everything with a fine-tooth comb. However Swanson admitted one line while she was shouting at Davidson went, "You'd rip the wings off of a butterfly, you son of a bitch!" when recounting a conversation with Walsh later in life. If the word 'rain' was used in a title they asked it removed. They also wanted to change Davidsons name to something else but Swanson and Walsh refused.
and Sunset Blvd
. It went on to make $1 million during its US run. However, at Kennedy's advice Swanson had sold her distribution rights for the film to Schenck as Kennedy felt it would be a commercial failure. He also didn't care for the image Swanson portrayed in the film. By this point Queen Kelly
had been a disaster and Swanson regretted it. The film made the top 10 best pictures of the year list as well. It would be the last film Raoul Walsh acted in, as he soon lost his eye in an accident.
The film was nominated by the Academy Awards
for a Best Actress in a Leading Role
(Gloria Swanson) and Best Cinematography
. Swanson did not attend the ceremony, and always felt it was like 'comparing apples to oranges'.
Contemporary reviews called it 'racy' but found it excellent and especially praised Swanson's acting.
Today, everything but the final reel (stopping just after Davidson finds Sadie in his room) exists in good condition. Sadie Thompson has been released on DVD a few times, and was included as a part of The Gloria Swanson Collection.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
that tells the story of a "fallen woman" who comes to Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila
Tutuila
Tutuila is the largest and the main island of American Samoa in the archipelago of Samoan Islands. It is the third largest island in the Samoan Islands chain of the Central Pacific located roughly northeast of Brisbane, Australia and over northeast of Fiji. It contains a large, natural harbor,...
to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The film stars Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
, Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
, and Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh...
, and was one of Swanson's better known silent films. The making of the film was extremely controversial. However, it was a financial and critical success for Swanson, one of her last. The film was based on the short story "Rain" by author W. Somerset Maugham and the 1923 play of the same name by John Colton
John Colton (screenwriter)
John Colton was a prolific American playwright and screenwriter. He spent the first 14 years of his life in Japan where his English father was a diplomat. After returning to the US he soon worked for a Minneapolis newspaper. He is best remembered for adapting Somerset Maughan's novel Rain into a ...
and Clemence Randolph.
Plot
On the island of Pago Pago, a smoking, drinking, jazz listening, young prostitute named Sadie Thompson (Gloria Swanson) arrives, claiming she is waiting for employment upon a ship. At the same time, 'moralists' arrive, including Mr. Davidson (Lionel Barrymore) and Mrs. Davidson (Blanche Friderici). The characters all end up staying in the same hotel, where the Davidsons plot to teach the natives about sin and Sadie entertains a bunch of marines.Sadie begins to fall in love with Sergeant Timothy O'Hara (Raoul Walsh), who isn’t fazed by her past. He tells her that he has a best friend who married a former prostitute and the couple now lives happily in Australia.
Davidson sets about trying to 'redeem' Sadie, much to her disgust. She doesn't see why she should have to answer to him above anyone else; finding himself self-important. Davidson tricks her into telling him about her past in San Francisco and, once she refuses to repent, he declares that he will go to the Governor and have her deported. Sadie is terrified of the idea but O'Hara assures her that it won't happen. He tells her he wishes she would go to Australia and wait for his term of service to finish, after which they'll marry. This they both agree upon.
Davidson gets his way, however, and Sadie is livid. She and O'Hara go to plead with the Governor, begging him to let her go to Australia instead of back to San Francisco. Once we find Davidson has also managed to get O'Hara punished for being immoral, we're told that Sadie will be able to go to Australia instead, but only if Davidson okays it. Davidson refuses and Sadie pleads, but to no avail. She eventually confesses that, if she goes back to San Francisco, there is 'a man there who won't let her go straight', which is what she wants to do. Davidson figures out this means that there is a warrant for her arrest back in San Francisco. Sadie claims that she was framed and is innocent, but it won't matter since, if she ends up in San Francisco, she'll have to go to prison nonetheless.
Davidson still refuses, saying she must atone for her past. Sadie pleads and pleads and eventually offers to repent. Davidson, however, says that her offer of repentance doesn’t matter and that the only way to fully repent is for her to go to prison. Sadie runs to her room, crying out for Davidson. Davidson returns and Sadie confesses she is afraid. Davidson then tells her that, if she repents, there will be nothing to fear and he begins to pray with her. Sadie converts to Christianity.
Three days later, we're told that Sadie has been praying the entire time. She has put away her old things and has become a modest woman. O'Hara returns and finds Davidson is gone, apparently 'trying to stop the locals from dancing on the beach'. O'Hara tells Sadie that he has a fishing boat waiting to take her and her things to a ship, that will then take her to Australia, where they can marry and be free. Sadie is extremely afraid and refuses to go, saying that 'old Sadie is dead' and she must go to San Francisco and prison, to repent. She fully relies and believes in Davidson now.
O'Hara does everything he can, including forcibly taking her from the room, but Davidson is waiting outside. O'Hara tries to attack him but Sadie asks him not to, so he doesn’t. O'Hara, extremely upset, leaves and Sadie pleads with Davidson not to get him in trouble, for 'it was all her fault'. She has become childlike and dependent on Davidson.
Later that night, Sadie is asleep and everyone else is heading to bed. Davidson can not sleep and goes out for a walk in the rain. (It has rained throughout almost the entire film.) His wife says he can’t sleep for 'the unpleasant dreams he’s been having about Miss Thompson'. A fellow boarder suspects they aren’t 'all that unpleasant'. Outside, Davidson is struggling with himself and realizes that he is sexually attracted to Sadie and unable to handle it. He looks into her window and eventually is able to return inside to his room.
Sadie, frightened because she heard noises, is waiting in Davidson's room. Davidson is shocked and sends her back to her room. Here the last reel is missing but the rest of the film apparently included Davidson jumping into the ocean and killing himself, unable to handle his conflicted passions. A fisherman finds his body. Sadie and O'Hara reconcile and head for Australia.
Production background
In 1927, Swanson released her first independent film for United ArtistsUnited Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
, The Love of Sunya
The Love of Sunya
The Love of Sunya is a silent film directed by Albert Parker, and based on the play The Eyes of Youth by Max Marcin and Charles Guernon. Produced by and starring Gloria Swanson, it also stars John Boles and Pauline Garon. It premiered at the grand opening of the Roxy Theatre in New York City on...
which was filmed on her terms in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and was the opening night film of the Roxy Theatre. The production had been a disaster and Swanson felt it would perform mediocre at best. On the advice of Joseph Schenck
Joseph Schenck
Joseph Michael Schenck was a pioneer executive who played a key role in the development of the United States film industry.Born in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia to a Jewish household, he and his family-including younger brother Nicholas- emigrated to New York City in 1893, he and Nicholas...
she relented and returned to Hollywood to prepare for a new picture.
Feeling she would never have as much artistic freedom and independence as she had at that moment, Swanson decided she, "Wanted to make my Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush is a 1925 silent film comedy written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin in his Little Tramp role. The film also stars Georgia Hale, Mack Swain, Tom Murray, Henry Bergman, Malcolm Waite....
." Schenck pleaded with her to do a commercially successful film like The Last of Mrs. Cheyney. Swanson felt it too formulaic and decided to call upon director Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh
Raoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh...
who was signed with Fox Film Corporation at the time.
Walsh had been known for bringing controversial material to film. At the first meeting, Swanson suggested a film based on the John Colton
John Colton
Sir John Colton KCMG was an Australian politician, Premier of South Australia and philanthropist.Colton, the son of William Colton, a farmer, was born in Devonshire, England. He arrived in South Australia in 1839 with his parents, who went on the land...
and Clemence Randolph play Rain (1923) which in turn was based on the story by W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
titled Miss Thompson (1921). Swanson had seen Jeanne Eagels
Jeanne Eagels
Jeanne Eagels was an American actress on Broadway and in several motion pictures. She was a former Ziegfeld Follies Girl who went on to greater fame on Broadway and in the emerging medium of sound films....
perform the role on stage twice and enjoyed it.
However, because of its content, producing the film under the tight restrictions of the Hays Code would be almost impossible. The play was on the 'unofficial blacklist' and had quietly been banned from filmmaking a year earlier. To try and avoid issues with the code Swanson and Walsh decided to leave out profanity, rename 'Reverend Davidson' to 'Mr. Davidson', and claim it was in the sake of morality to produce the picture as Irving Thalberg
Irving Thalberg
Irving Grant Thalberg was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. He was called "The Boy Wonder" for his youth and his extraordinary ability to select the right scripts, choose the right actors, gather the best production staff and make very profitable films.-Life and...
had produced The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter (1926 film)
The Scarlet Letter is a 1926 drama film directed by Victor Sjöström. Louis B. Mayer was reluctant on using Miss Gish, fearing opposition from church groups. The film was announced as "It's a real 'A' picture", taking advantage of the 'A' for Adultery, and proved a box office success...
(1926) at MGM.
Swanson invited Will Hays for lunch and summarized the plot, naming the author and the sticking points. According to Swanson, Hays made a verbal promise that he would have no problem with the making of such a film. Swanson set about getting the rights to the play by having Schenck pretend to buy it in the name of United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
never to be used. Thus they were able to get the story rights for $60,000 instead of the original $100,000.
When news broke just what was intended with the play the three authors threatened to sue. However, Swanson later contacted Maugham about rights to a sequel and he offered to do so for $25,000. Maugham claimed Fox had asked about a sequel the same time Swanson had bought the original stories rights. The sequel would involve following what became of Sadie in Australia but was never made.
Swanson and Walsh set about writing the script, and discreetly placed an ad announcing the film thinking no one noticed as Charles Lindbergh
Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh was an American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist.Lindbergh, a 25-year-old U.S...
had just made his historic flight. However, the press picked up on it and sensationalized the story. United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
received a threatening two-page telegram from the MPAA signed by all its members including Fox (Walsh's studio) and Hays himself. In addition, the rest of the signors owned several thousand movies houses and if they refused to screen the film it could be a financial disaster. Ironically, this was the first time Swanson had heard the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, who she would later have an affair with and who would finance her next few pictures including Queen Kelly
Queen Kelly
Queen Kelly is the title of an American silent film produced in 1928-29 and released in 1929, originally by United Artists. The film was directed by Erich von Stroheim, starred Gloria Swanson in the title role, and also starred Walter Byron and Seena Owen. It was produced by Joseph P...
(1929).
Swanson was angered by the response as she felt those very studios had produced 'questionable' films themselves and were jealous at not having the chance to produce Rain. After another threatening telegram she decided to first appeal to MPAA, and then the newspapers. She only heard back from Marcus Loew
Marcus Loew
Marcus Loew was an American business magnate and a pioneer of the motion picture industry who formed Loews Theatres and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer .-Biography:...
who promised to appeal on her behalf, and since he had a chain of theatres this eased some of her concerns. Figuring the silence meant the matter had been dropped, Swanson began filming on Sadie Thompson, which already had a quarter of a million dollars invested in it.
Production
Before casting began the young Douglas Fairbanks Jr. wanted to audition for the role of Handsome O'Hara. However Swanson felt he was too young and not right for the role. Lionel BarrymoreLionel Barrymore
Lionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
had been first picked to play Davidson but was thought to be too ill at the time though he did eventually win the role. Barrymore wore the same outfit for an entire week, aggravating Swanson. She asked some of the crew to tell him to change and wash; which he did indeed do. Despite this Swanson was happy with his performance. Walsh hadn't acted in front of a camera in 8 years and feared he wouldn't be able to both direct and act at the same time. However 2 days into filming his fears were quelled.
Filming took place on Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
near Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Swanson took ill shortly after and met a doctor who started her life long love of macrobiotic diets. A week into shooting Sam Goldwyn called cameraman George Barnes away. Swanson was furious but the loan contract had allowed Goldwyn to call him away as he pleased. Not wanting to let a hundred extras sit around for days Swanson and Walsh tried to hire another two cameramen but both were unsatisfactory. Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
had offered the services of her favorite cameraman Charles Rosher
Charles Rosher
Charles Rosher, A.S.C. was a two-time Academy Award-winning cinematographer who worked from the early days of silent films through the 1950s...
who was called in but despite doing a decent job couldn't match Barnes work. Through Loew MGM loaned Oliver Marsh who completed the picture.
The entire cameraman experience was extremely costly to the production, yet the picture went on. With the picture half finished it was already way over budget and Schenck was wary, as Swanson's first picture had also been overbudget and underperformed. Swanson talked with her advisors and sold her farm Croton-on-Hudson, and offered to sell her New York penthouse as well.
Despite reports that dirty words can be read on the characters' lips, Swanson claims the censors went over everything with a fine-tooth comb. However Swanson admitted one line while she was shouting at Davidson went, "You'd rip the wings off of a butterfly, you son of a bitch!" when recounting a conversation with Walsh later in life. If the word 'rain' was used in a title they asked it removed. They also wanted to change Davidsons name to something else but Swanson and Walsh refused.
Release
The film was a success and was the only silent independent film of Swanson's to do well at the box office. In fact it was one of her last financially successful films including the talkies, The TrespasserThe Trespasser
The Trespasser is an American film directed and written by Edmund Goulding, starring Gloria Swanson, Robert Ames, Purnell Pratt, Henry B...
and Sunset Blvd
Sunset Boulevard (film)
Sunset Boulevard is a 1950 American film noir directed and co-written by Billy Wilder, and produced and co-written by Charles Brackett...
. It went on to make $1 million during its US run. However, at Kennedy's advice Swanson had sold her distribution rights for the film to Schenck as Kennedy felt it would be a commercial failure. He also didn't care for the image Swanson portrayed in the film. By this point Queen Kelly
Queen Kelly
Queen Kelly is the title of an American silent film produced in 1928-29 and released in 1929, originally by United Artists. The film was directed by Erich von Stroheim, starred Gloria Swanson in the title role, and also starred Walter Byron and Seena Owen. It was produced by Joseph P...
had been a disaster and Swanson regretted it. The film made the top 10 best pictures of the year list as well. It would be the last film Raoul Walsh acted in, as he soon lost his eye in an accident.
The film was nominated by the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for a Best Actress in a Leading Role
Academy Award for Best Actress
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the Academy Awards of merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance while working within the film industry...
(Gloria Swanson) and Best Cinematography
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:...
. Swanson did not attend the ceremony, and always felt it was like 'comparing apples to oranges'.
Contemporary reviews called it 'racy' but found it excellent and especially praised Swanson's acting.
Today, everything but the final reel (stopping just after Davidson finds Sadie in his room) exists in good condition. Sadie Thompson has been released on DVD a few times, and was included as a part of The Gloria Swanson Collection.
Cast
- Lionel BarrymoreLionel BarrymoreLionel Barrymore was an American actor of stage, screen and radio. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Free Soul...
as Mr. Alfred Davidson - Blanche FridericiBlanche FridericiBlanche Friderici , sometimes credited as Blanche Frederici, was an American film and stage actress.-Early life and education:She was born in Brooklyn, New York.-Theatre:...
as Mrs. Alfred Davidson - Charles Lane as Dr. Angus McPhail
- Florence Midgley as Mrs. Angus McPhail
- James A. Marcus as Joe Horn, the trader
- Sophia Artega as Ameena
- Will Stanton as Quartermaster Bates
- Raoul WalshRaoul WalshRaoul Walsh was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh...
as Sergeant Timothy 'Tim' O'Hara - Gloria SwansonGloria SwansonGloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
as Sadie Thompson
Other film adaptations
- 1932 - as RainRain (1932 film)Rain is a 1932 South Seas drama film directed by Lewis Milestone with portions filmed at Santa Catalina Island, California. The film stars Joan Crawford as prostitute Sadie Thompson and Walter Huston as a conflicted missionary who wants to reform Sadie, but whose own morals start decaying...
, starring Joan CrawfordJoan CrawfordJoan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
, Walter HustonWalter HustonWalter Thomas Huston was a Canadian-born American actor. He was the father of actor and director John Huston and the grandfather of actress Anjelica Huston and actor Danny Huston.-Life and career:...
, Guy KibbeeGuy KibbeeGuy Bridges Kibbee was an American stage and film actor.Born in El Paso, Texas, Kibbee began his entertainment career on Mississippi riverboats and eventually became a successful Broadway actor...
and Beulah BondiBeulah BondiBeulah Bondi was an American actress.Bondi began her acting career as a young child in theater, and after establishing herself as a stage actress, she reprised her role in Street Scene for the 1931 film version...
; adapted by Maxwell AndersonMaxwell AndersonJames Maxwell Anderson was an American playwright, author, poet, journalist and lyricist.-Early years:Anderson was born in Atlantic, Pennsylvania, the second of eight children to William Lincoln "Link" Anderson, a Baptist minister, and Charlotte Perrimela Stephenson, both of Scots and Irish descent...
, directed by Lewis MilestoneLewis MilestoneLewis Milestone was a Russian-American motion picture director. He is known for directing Two Arabian Knights and All Quiet on the Western Front , both of which received Academy Awards for Best Director...
.
- 1946 - as Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.Dirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A. is a 1946 race film directed by Spencer Williams and produced by Sack Amusement Enterprises.-Plot:Gertie LaRue is a nightclub entertainer from the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. She arrives on the Caribbean island of "Rinidad" to perform as the headliner in...
, starring Francine EverettFrancine EverettFrancine Everett was an African-American actress and singer who is best known for her performances in race films, independently-produced motion pictures with all-black casts that were created exclusively for distribution to cinemas that catered to African American audiences.-Early life:Born as...
and Don Wilson, adapted by True T. Thompson, directed by Spencer WilliamsSpencer WilliamsSpencer Williams was an American jazz and popular music composer, pianist, and singer. He is best known for his hit songs "Basin Street Blues", "I Ain't Got Nobody", "Royal Garden Blues", "I've Found a New Baby", "Everybody Loves My Baby", "Tishomingo Blues", "Careless Love", and many... - 1949 - a film noirish "Sadie Thompson" dance number from the Marx BrothersMarx BrothersThe Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
film Love HappyLove HappyLove Happy was the 14th and last starring feature for the Marx Brothers. The film stars Harpo Marx, Chico Marx, and, in a smaller role than usual, Groucho Marx, plus Ilona Massey, Vera-Ellen, Paul Valentine, Marion Hutton, Raymond Burr, Bruce Gordon , and Eric Blore, with a walk-on by Marilyn Monroe...
features Vera-EllenVera-EllenVera-Ellen was an American actress and dancer, principally celebrated for her filmed dance partnerships with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye and Donald O'Connor.-Early life:...
dancing with a group of World War II Marines led by Paul Valentine. - 1953 - as Miss Sadie ThompsonMiss Sadie ThompsonMiss Sadie Thompson is 1953 American musical 3D film starring Rita Hayworth, Aldo Ray, José Ferrer, and released by Columbia Pictures. The film is based on the W. Somerset Maugham short story Miss Thompson...
, starring Rita HayworthRita HayworthRita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, José FerrerJosé FerrerJosé Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintrón , best known as José Ferrer, was a Puerto Rican actor, as well as a theater and film director...
, Aldo RayAldo RayAldo Ray was an American actor.-Life and career:Ray was born in Pen Argyl, PA, to an Italian family of five brothers and one sister. His brother Mario lettered in football at USC in the years 1952-54...
and Charles BronsonCharles BronsonCharles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
; adapted by Harry Kleiner, directed by Curtis BernhardtCurtis BernhardtCurtis Bernhardt was a German film director born in Worms, Germany, under the name Kurt Bernhardt. Some of his American films were called "woman's films" including the Joan Crawford film Possessed . Bernhardt trained as an actor in Germany, and performed on the stage, before starting as a film...
. It was nominated for the Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Music, Song (for Lester Lee and Ned WashingtonNed WashingtonNed Washington was an American lyricist.-Biography:Washington was nominated for eleven Academy Awards from 1940 to 1962...
's "Sadie Thompson's Song (Blue Pacific Blues)").