Sadie Thompson
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Movie Reviews of Sadie Thompson
Movie Review: A landmark of silent cinema history
Summary: 5 Stars
This DVD is a special treat for serious enthusiasts of classic films because despite its missing end scenes, Kino Video has resurrected this silent film with a reconstructed ending and many bonus features which give ample in-depth and background information about Sadie Thompson. Based on a real-life person, the story of a prostitute clashing with a religious reformer or minister first appeared as a novella by W. Somerset Maugham, then a Broadway stage play before screen legend Gloria Swanson decided to tackle the challenge of playing the controversial character. Her second venture as a producer for United Artists, Swanson chose a highly talented crew to complement her own outstanding performance, which resulted in an energy-charged, entertaining and well-balanced drama with touches of playfulness and subtle humour. Lionel Barrymore is frighteningly convincing in the role of the overly zealous and pragmatic reformer, who was originally a religious minister in the story and play, but due to censorship rules in the 1920s, any reference to a minister or church had to be removed. Gloria Swanson also excels in this role which allowed her more acting expression and depth than her `fashion clothes horse' roles she had become so famous for in the early 1920s. Her mannerisms and even her walk convey the essence of the Sadie Thompson character as she fools around with some US Marines, then challenged by the strict, conservative and judgmental reformer and his wife. When she finally gives in to pressure to atone for her sins, the transformation to a plain and sullen woman is also quite striking. Just as the electrifying tension between Sadie and the reformer culminates, the moving film ends and is replaced by stills which reveal the final twist of the story. This is somewhat of a disappointment, but considering that "Sadie Thompson" was believed lost for several decades, most viewers will surely be happy just to see this important film in its present state: almost complete with only a few segments of poor picture quality due to deterioration. An exceptionally good orchestral score more than makes up for the few blurry scenes, and enhances the various moods and intensity of the drama throughout. The bonus features give background information about the film, the original story, as well as comparisons between the written story, play and films, including a sound re-make only a few years later with Joan Crawford entitled "Rain". With hardly any action and most scenes shot inside the hotel in the tropical downpour, "Sadie Thompson" is more of an intellectual film which challenges two extremes of thought and life-style, and when or whether a compromise can be found. The classic story and its author aside, this film is also of interest due to the cast and crew, with Raoul Walsh both acting and directing, and art direction by the renowned William Cameron Menzies whose efforts to re-create the South Pacific inn also add to the overall high quality of this production.
Movie Review: Maugham's Famous Story & Swanson's Finest Silent Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
During his lifetime Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was best known for such novels as OF HUMAN BONDAGE and such plays as THE CIRCLE; today, however, he is chiefly recalled for his short stories, of which the 1921 "Miss Thompson" is easily the most famous. The original story was soon adapted for the stage under the title RAIN--and it was a tremendous success. The play has been performed countless times and continues to be revived on a consistent basis; there have also been three major screen adaptations.
The best of these is the 1928 silent film SADIE THOMPSON starring Gloria Swanson (1897-1983.) Swanson was perhaps the first Hollywood "Diva," an actress as controversial as she was popular. By the late 1920s her liaison with the infamous Joe Kennedy (father of John, Robert, and Ted) gave her the clout to become her own producer, and with Kennedy money behind her she selected the Maugham story and cast herself in the title role.
It was an inspired choice. Swanson had somewhat hard features and tremendous attitude, and many consider that this is her best overall performance. The story concerns the collision of a brash prostitute (Swanson) and a holier-than-thou minister (Lionel Barrymore) who find themselves trapped by quarantine and monsoon rains in a rundown hotel on Pago-Pago. Needless to say, the sparks fly--especially when Davidson pressures the island govenor to deport Sadie as soon as possible. But it gradually transpires that Davidson may have more than one reason for wanting Sadie gone: it may be that he finds her a temptation himself.
SADIE THOMPSON would be Swanson's last great success in the silent era--the later QUEEN KELLY was never finished or widely released. But like most other silent films, it was buried by the advent of sound, and over the years the final ten or fifteen minutes of the film was completely lost. Without a conclusion, it was rarely shown even after interest in silent films revived. Fortunately, Kino has been able to restore the conclusion with a mixture of film fragments, stills, and title card recreations, and the brazen Sadie, the dour Dr. Davidson, and the statement made about intolerance, tempation, and hypocrisy live and breathe once more.
The picture quality shows age, but on the whole it is quite good and probably the best available short of digital restoration. The bonuses are slight but interesting, including comparisons of key scenes from the original story, the playscript, the 1928 Swanson version, and the 1932 Joan Crawford version, which was titled RAIN. (Comparison with the 1953 Rita Hayworth version, titled MISS SADIE THOMPSON, is not made; this version, however, is negligable.) KINO Video has done a tremendous job of restoring, preserving, and once more making this memorable film available. If you're a fan of Maugham, Swanson, or silent film in general, SADIE THOMPSON is a must-have.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Movie Review: Superb Somerset, Swanson and Silent
Summary: 5 Stars
This 1928 silent film is perhaps one of the alltime great films and as much as I love Joan Crawford in "Rain," this version impresses with its fine attention to story.
Based on the Somerset Maugham tale, it tells of a fun-loving and seductive young prostitute, the titular character (Gloria Swanson), temporarily holed up on the island of Pago Pago with a forbidding reformer and a gaggle of marines when her boat to Apia is infected by small pox. It becomes clear what a maniacal, almost psychotic and self-delusional figure religious reformer Alfred Davidson (Lionel Barrymore) is and his exact attentions upon Sadie's conversion when his eyes stray to her heaving bosom. Barrymore is wonderful in conveying this man's frightening fervor and human frailty. This is in great contrast to the wooden quality of Walter Huston in "Rain" (although Huston was also very effective). Gloria Swanson is sexy, vivacious and full of fun, her antics actually making me laugh out loud, her camaraderie with the marines impish, funny and light. The attraction between "Handsome" Tim O'Hara (Raoul Walsh) and Swanson is palpable, particularly when the camera lingers in close-up on Swanson's ravishing beauty. She has eyes that rival Elizabeth Taylor's. Her face also expresses an entire range in the character from unself-conscious coarseness to innocence, wistfulness and desire for a better life with a respectable man -- in fact, Barrymore and Swanson create complex characterizations without a single word spoken.
The music also adds immensely to the mounting tension of various scenes and fortunately, some of the film footage that was lost has been painstakingly restored, although the loss remains a great one. One can only imagine how dynamic these high points in the plot would have been with the real footage and it is grievous to know that so many silent films and other early films, some perhaps as important as "Sadie Thompson," have indeed been lost forever.
In any case, a superb version of the classic Maugham story.
Highly recommended for any film buff and a great chance to see Swanson at the peak of her powers and beauty, her talent and magic in front of the camera undeniable. Yes, they certainly had faces then!
Movie Review: Gloria's greatest role.
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is stunning! I'm new to silent movies and recently "discovered" Gloria's silent films on DVD having only known her as the tragic star in the 1950 movie Sunset Boulevard - but I believe she gives the performance of her career in this film. I love her as Sadie. The movie is incredibly atmospheric and filled with ravishing close ups of Gloria. Her scenes are very well played - genuinely touching and funny and wonderfully sexy. Gloria really lives this part and you'll find yourself rooting for her character throughout. She also produced this movie and apparently really had to fight to get it made - the story was considered very daring in its day. The restoration by KINO is fine though some scenes show bad damage (never longer than a few seconds at a time and such moments are few and far between)and though the dramatic ending is marred by the use of film stills (the final scenes of the sole print are apparently lost forever) it can't diminish the overall power and impact of the movie. Everything else about the film is just too good - the sets, acting, camerawork are all superb - the story dated but still packing a real dramatic punch. Silent movie fans should lap this up - it's a real treat.Movie Review: Tarnished Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Much like the "restored" version of Swanson's Queen Kelly this release is a mixed blessing. On the one hand it is breath-taking to see the beauty and range Gloria Swanson had - yet, as the last reel of the film is missing it's tragic that the dramatic climax of the film is lost.That said, the restoration as excellent - the reconstruction of the climax works well, and beyond that Kino have also added the last reel of the 1932 remake RAIN and the shooting script.
This, along with essays and stills, as well as other clips and excerpts makes this a must have DVD for any serious silent film lover.
Sad that Swanson's talent in silent films has been somewhat eclipsed by her - admittedly great - performance as the tragic diva in Sunset Boulevard. This is a rare and welcome chance to see a magnificent star at the height of her powers.
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