The past here is a bible thumper played by Lionel Barrymore. You know, Mr. Potter from It's A Wonderful Life. Sadie plays her phonograph and entertains soldiers in her room. This of course upsets the holy rollers and they set out to redeem the sinful Sadie. Sadie in the mean time has fallen in love with one of the soldiers, and he likewise with her.

Gloria Swanson is and will always be remembered for her great performance in Sunset Blvd. Yet in her silent films we see the real star. Swanson was a very attractive, talented actress. Sadie Thompson was her silent film swan song. Made in 1928, right when sound was about to take over. Swanson produced this movie and was nominated for an academy award for it.

In Sunset Blvd, Norma has a line where she says "We didn't need dialogue. We had faces." Watch this movie and you will agree. If you have never seen a silent film you should. They convey emotion and characterization as well or even better than many films today.

The one disadvantage in watching these old movies is that Sadie's only crimes are vaguely implied. She does nothing more than laugh and drink with the soldiers. You must put yourself into this movie and it's morals to enjoy it. However, it's ending is predictable and a let down. Perhaps it wasn't when it first came out, but so many films have followed this plot that the ending can be seen practically from the opening shot.

Patrick
This is the first screen version of W. Somerset Maugham's classic story 'Miss Sadie Thompson'; it had also been a successful play on Broadway. The story was popular enough over the years to spawn two well-known remakes, one starring Joan Crawford and the other Rita Hayworth, neither of them being as faithful in recreating the uncompromising ending of the celebrated novelist's written word.

Eric has done a good job explaining the plot. I would like to mention that the three leads all give wonderful performances. Swanson is perfect as the brazen Sadie, Lionel Barrymore captures the creepy self-righteousness of Christian reformer Alfred Davidson, and Raoul Walsh is completely convincing as the average-Joe-sergeant hopelessly in love with the scandalous woman.

I disagree with Eric on only a few things.

One is a technical point. His statement that Sadie Thompson was Gloria Swanson's final silent movie is only partially true. The following year she began the ill fated Queen Kelly under the direction of the eccentric Erich von Stroheim. While it is true that the project was never completed, the partial movie is available today on DVD.

I also disagree with his entire last paragraph. I, for one, like the fact that older movies don't force-feed us graphic information. Once upon a time the word subtle had meaning. Besides it is readily apparent that Sadie is a prostitute; and the specific crime she is running away from is not essential to the story. And I really don't see how Eric can call the ending predictable and a let down. I certainly did not expect Davidson to rape Sadie and then commit suicide. Sorry to spoil the ending but after all, this movie is over seventy-five years old and I think the statute of limitations on that has long since run out.

Photos © Copyright 1928 United Artists All Rights Reserved