Sadie Thompson

1928
Unrated
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A prostitute seeking a fresh start becomes the obsession of a religious extremist.A prostitute seeking a fresh start becomes the obsession of a religious extremist.A prostitute seeking a fresh start becomes the obsession of a religious extremist.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

2.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 3 wins & 2 nominations total

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Unseen for many years because the last reel had decomposed, the final eight minutes have been reconstructed using production stills and title cards, allowing modern audiences to see an approximation of the complete film.

Goofs
At the beginning of the film, Mr. and Mrs. Davidson each write a quotation in the ship's autograph book. Their handwriting appears identical, revealing that neither actor actually wrote what is shown on screen.

Quotes
Sadie Thompson: [screaming at Alfred Davidson] Was I doing you any harm? You bloodthirsty buzzard! Was I? Who gave you the right to pass judgement on me? You psalm-singing louse! You'd tear out your own mother's heart, if she didn't agree with you, and call it saving her soul!

Alternate versions
Originally released at 97 minutes. Out of circulation for decades because the final reel of the picture was destroyed due to film decay.

Connections
Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008)

User reviews26

Featured review

9/10

Stunning Swanson!

What a performance - Swanson bursts out of the screen, as Somerset Maugham's prostitute heroine trapped on a tropical island with a crusading parson and a sexy sergeant. And Lionel Barrymore as the parson and the director Raoul Walsh as the sergeant are her match. This is silent acting at its best.

Yes the piece is a little stagey and the action too confined for a silent picture, but when the photography is as brilliant as it is here - who cares? It deservedly won the first ever Oscar for cinematography.

This is a passionate and beautiful production. What a tragedy that the last few minutes have been lost. They have been reconstructed using titles and stills - but how I would have loved to have seen the scene when Barrymore rapes Swanson. It must have been breathtaking. Don't miss this film.