Main Cast: Joan Crawford, Walter Huston, William Gargan, Guy Kibbee, Walter Catlett
Release Year: 1932
Country: US
Run Time: 92 minutes
Plot
The pleasures of the flesh confront the discipline of the Lord's teachings in this screen adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's story Miss Sadie Thompson. Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford) is a sassy streetwalker who lands in Pago Pago in the South Pacific after an epidemic grounds the ship on which she's booked passage. Sadie's shapely legs, free spirit, and quick wit soon attract the attention of a group of American soldiers stationed on the island; while most are motivated by simple lust, the naive Sgt. O'Hara (William Gargan) falls head over heels for Sadie, thoroughly unaware of her checkered past and shameful profession. Rev. Alfred Davidson (Walter Huston), a fire-and-brimstone preacher bent on bringing salvation to the soldiers, is fully aware of Sadie's occupation and moral code, and is determined to convince her to change her ways. Sadie slowly but surely is softened by Davidson's conviction, but the preacher soon finds himself affected by her sensual presence; O'Hara also learns the truth about Sadie, but hatches his own plan to reform her -- marriage. While a box office failure in 1932, Rain has gone on to become a cult favorite, thanks to Crawford's vivid performance as Sadie and director Lewis Milestone's adventurous visual style. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
In the first sound film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham's play, young MGM "flapper" star Joan Crawford's turn as Miss Sadie Thompson revealed that she could play more than just a spirited modern girl. As the South Seas prostitute reformed and then violated by Walter Huston's fire-and-brimstone preacher, Crawford matches Huston's intensity and reveals the depth of emotions behind Sadie's slatternly, free-wheeling façade. The lush, nocturnal tropical setting with its copious precipitation and Polynesian drum music enhances the sensuality of the conflict between spirit and carnality, while director Lewis Milestone's mobile camera and telling visual touches (like Sadie's choice of shoes) offset the potential staginess of a theatrical adaptation. A flop in 1932, Rain has since recovered its artistic reputation, particularly for Crawford's then-shocking "realism" as Sadie. The play was first adapted as Sadie Thompson in 1928 with Gloria Swanson, then re-made again in 1953 as Miss Sadie Thompson with Rita Hayworth. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
The plot of the film is based on the 1923 play "Rain" by John Colton and Clemence Randolph, which in turn was based on the short story "Rain" by W. Somerset Maugham.
A boat, which was en route to another port, is temporarily stranded on the South Pacific island village of Pago Pago due to a possible cholera outbreak on-board. Discharging among others, Alfred Davidson, a self-righteous missionary, his prim, proper wife, and Sadie Thompson, a prostitute. Sadie spends her time partying and drinking with the American soldiers stationed on the island. Sergeant Tim O'Hara, nicknamed by Sadie as "Handsome", falls in love with her.
Joan Crawford as prostitute Sadie Thompson
Her wild behavior soon becomes more than the Davidsons can stand and Mr. Davidson confronts Sadie, resolving to save her soul. However, when she rebels and dismisses his offer, Davidson has the governor order her deported to San Francisco, United States where she apparently committed a crime years earlier. She begs Davidson to allow her to remain on the island a few more days; her plan is to flee to Sydney, Australia instead. During a heated argument with Davidson, Sadie suddenly experiences a religious conversion and agrees to return to San Francisco and the jail sentence that is waiting for her there. The evening before she is to leave, Sergeant O'Hara asks Sadie to marry him and offers to hide her until the Sydney boat sails, but she is under Davidson's spell and refuses. Later, while native drums beat, Davidson succumbs to Sadie's beauty and accosts her. The next morning, he is found dead on the ocean shore — a suicide. Now disillusioned with Davidson's teachings, Sadie switches back to her old self and goes off to Sydney with O'Hara to start a new life.
Rain was not well-received either critically or financially upon initial release. The unglamorous role for Crawford and bold story (religious hypocrisy being its main theme) caught Depression-era audiences off-guard.
Motion Picture Herald commented, "Because the producers have made such a strong attempt to establish the stern impressiveness of the story, it is rather slow. In its drive to become powerful, it appears to have lost the spark of spontaneity....Joan Crawford and Walter Huston are satisfactory."
Variety noted, "It turns out to be a mistake to have assigned the Sadie Thompson role to Miss Crawford. It shows her off unfavorably. The dramatic significance of it all is beyond her range.... [Director] Milestone tried to achieve action with the camera, but wears the witnesses down with words. Joan Crawford's get-up as the light lady is extremely bizarre. Pavement pounders don't quite trick themselves up as fantastically as all that. In commercial favor of Rain is the general repute of the theme and Miss Crawford's personal following, but the finished product will not help either."
