Sadie Thompson (1928) is a silent film which 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. It was one of Swanson's better known silent films and the making of it was extremely controversial. However it was a financial and critical success for Swanson, one of her last. It was based on the short story "Rain" by author W. Somerset Maugham.
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 sailors.
Sadie begins to fall in love with Sergeant Timothy O'Hara (Raoul Walsh) who isn’t fazed by her past, saying 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 momentarily into telling about her past in San Francisco and once she refuses to repent he declares he will go to the Governor and have her deported. Sadie is terrified of the idea but O'Hara assures her it won't happen. He tells her he wishes she would go to Australia and wait for his service to finish and then they'll marry, which they both agree upon.
However Davidson gets his way and Sadie is livid. She and O'Hara go to plead with the Governor begging 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 Sadie will be able to go to Australia instead; if Davidson okays it. Davidson refuses and Sadie pleads to no avail. She eventually confesses if she goes back to San Francisco there is 'a man there who won't let her go straight' which is also she wants to do. Davidson figures out this is an arrest warrant; and Sadie claims she was framed and innocent but it wont matter; if she ends up in San Francisco she'll have to go to prison nonetheless.
Davidson still refuses, saying she must atone. Sadie pleads and pleads and eventually offers to repent. However Davidson says it doesn’t matter, the only way to fully repent is for her to go to prison. Sadie runs to her room and freaks out, crying out for Davidson. Davidson returns and Sadie confesses she is afraid. Davidson then tells her if she repents there will be nothing to fear, and begins to pray with her. Sadie converts to Christianity.
Three days later we're told 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 he has a fishing boat waiting to take her and her things to a ship that will take her to Australia, where they can marry and be free. Sadie is extremely afraid and refuses, saying '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. However Davidson is waiting outside. O'Hara tries to attack him but Sadie asks him not to, so he doesn’t. O'Hara leaves extremely upset 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 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, finding 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 Davidsons 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.
Background
In 1927, Swanson released her first independent film for United Artists, The Love of Sunya which had been filmed on her terms in New York. The production had been a disaster and Swanson felt it would perform mediocre at best.[2] On the advice of Joseph Schenck she relented and returned to Hollywood to prepare for a new picture.[2]
Feeling she would never have as much artistic freedom and independence as at that moment Swanson decided she quote, "...wanted to make [her] Gold Rush."[3] 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 Studios at the time.[4]
Walsh had been known for bringing controversial material to film and at their first meeting suggested the John Colton and Clemence Randolph play Rain (1923). The play had been based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham in 1921 titled Miss Thompson. Swanson had seen Jeanne Eagels perform the role twice and enjoyed it.[5]
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.[6] 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 to produce The Scarlet Letter.[7]
Swanson invited Will Hays over for luncheon 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[2][6] 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.[10]
Swanson and Walsh set about writing the script[11], 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.[6] United Artists received a threatening 2 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.[12] Ironically this was the first time Swanson had heard the name of Joseph Kennedy, who she would later have an affair with and who would finance her next few pictures including Queen Kelly (1929).[13]
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'.[14] After another threatening telegram she decided to first appeal to MPAA, and then the papers.[15] 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.[16]
Production
Before casting began the young Douglas Fairbanks Jr. wanted to audition for the role of Handsome O'Hara.[14] However Swanson felt he was too young and not right for the role.[17] Lionel Barrymore had been first picked to play Davidson but was thought to be too ill at the time though he did eventually win the role.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]
Filming took place on Catalina Island near Long Beach, California. Swanson took ill shortly after and met a doctor who started her life long love of macrobiotic diets.[20] 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.[21] Not wanting to let a hundred extras sit around for days Swanson and Walsh tried to hire another two cameraman 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.[22] Through Loew MGM loaned Oliver Marsh who completed the picture.[23]
The entire cameraman experience was extremely costly to the production, yet the picture went on.[23] With the picture half finished it was already way over budget and Schenck was weary, as Swanson's first picture had also been overbudget and underperformed.[23] Swanson talked with her advisors and sold her farm Croton-on-Hudson, and offered to sell her New York penthouse as well.[23]
Despite reports that dirty words can be read on the characters lips Swanson claims the censors went over everything with a fine tooth comb.[24] 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.[25] 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.[24]
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 Trespasser and Sunset Blvd.[26] It went on to make $1 million during its US run.[27] 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.[28] 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.[28] The film made the top 10 best pictures of the year list as well.[28] 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'.[28]
Contemporary reviews called it 'racy' but found it excellent and especially praised Swanson's acting.[29]
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 Barrymore as Mr. Alfred Davidson
- Blanche Friderici 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 Walsh as Sergeant Timothy 'Tim' O'Hara
- Gloria Swanson as Sadie Thompson
Other film adaptations
References
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 304, 381. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b c Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 294. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 295. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 295–296. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 297. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b c Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 305. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 297–302. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 302. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 303–304. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 323. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 304. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 305–306. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 308–309. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 307. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 309. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 311–312. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 313. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 320–321. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 317–318. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 313–317. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 319–320. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 320. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b c d Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 321. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ a b Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 322. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 499. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 407. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019344/business
- ^ a b c d Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. Random House. pp. 374. ISBN 0-394-50662-6.
- ^ http://www.silentsaregolden.com/sadiethompsonreview.html
External links
