Sadie Thompson

Sadie Thompson
Customer Review: A landmark of silent cinema history
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.
Customer Review: Superb Somerset, Swanson and Silent
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!