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Rain (1932)
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Overview
User Rating:
Writers:
Release Date:
12 October 1932 (USA)
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Plot:
A prostitute finds redemption in some Hawaiian isle thanks to a hard missionary man. full summary | full synopsis
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Review: ‘Precious’
(From The Flickcast. 20 November 2009, 8:00 AM, PST)
The Best Films You’Ve Never Seen – James Napoli’s rental of the week -- This week: Rain (1932)
(From Collider.com. 3 March 2009)
(From The Flickcast. 20 November 2009, 8:00 AM, PST)
The Best Films You’Ve Never Seen – James Napoli’s rental of the week -- This week: Rain (1932)
(From Collider.com. 3 March 2009)
User Comments:
Amazing portrayal of a real woman before "the code" took over Hollywood
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Cast
(Complete credited cast) | Fred Howard | ... | Hodgson (as Frederic Howard) |
| Ben Hendricks Jr. | ... | Griggs (as Ben Hendricks) |
| William Gargan | ... | Sergeant Tim O'Hara |
| Mary Shaw | ... | Ameena |
| Guy Kibbee | ... | Joe Horn |
| Kendall Lee | ... | Mrs. Robert MacPhail |
| Beulah Bondi | ... | Mrs. Alfred Davidson |
| Matt Moore | ... | Dr. Robert MacPhail |
 | Walter Huston | ... | Alfred Davidson |
| Walter Catlett | ... | Quartermaster Bates |
 | Joan Crawford | ... | Sadie Thompson |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
94 min (Turner library print)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)
Certification:
Canada:G (Ontario) |
USA:Approved (PCA #1318-R, 29 August 1935 for re-release) |
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) |
USA:TV-PG (TV rating)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The play. "Rain," opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 7 November 1922 and closed in June 1923 after 256 performances. The opening night cast included Jeanne Eagels as Sadie Thompson. A revival in 1924 (also with Eagels) ran for 648 performances. There was also another revival in 1935 with Tallulah Bankhead as Sadie.
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Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Studio lights are constantly reflected in Joe Horne's bald head.
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Quotes:
Dr. Robert MacPhail:
I've no doubt you've a sufficiently good opinion of yourself to bear mine with equanimity.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Twentieth Century (1934)
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Soundtrack:
St. Louis Blues
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (36 total)
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Despite some hammy acting, especially by a fledgling Joan Crawford, I easily give this movie a 9/10 rating.
"The Code" refers (in case you don't know) to the morality code put into place in mid-1934 which clamped down very hard on what could be portrayed in the movies. After the code, women that were off-color in any way, shape, or form had to be punished, redeemed through atonement/repentance, or killed off.
However, in "Rain", Joan Crawford plays Sadie Thompson, a prostitute working on a South Pacific (?) island whom all the service-men seem to adore. They treat her like a friend, a comrade, not a lowly piece of scum or mere sexual object. This, in and of itself, was refreshing to see. And it was from 1932 no less!
A group of missionaries are waylaid on Sadie's island due to a torrential rain storm. The head missionary takes an instant dislike to Sadie's character (I believe he is threatened by her free-loving and live-loving spirit), and has the governor of the island extradite her back to the United States, to be prosecuted for some crime that the film does not clearly delineate.
There is also a soldier who loves Sadie and who wants to marry her. He knows she's a prostitute. He's had her and so have most if not all of his buddies, but he loves the person she is and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. He is taken to the brig for a week for some petty offense, and during this week the head missionary convinces (brainwashes) Sadie into believing she is a filthy, sinful creature who must pay for her sins. The soldier cannot believe the transformation in Sadie when he gets out of the brig. The interesting thing to me is that as the "reformed" Sadie, Joan Crawford is MUCH more beautiful (less makeup, more subdued clothing, softer-focus lighting) than as the lurid Sadie, yet the soldier sees she is much LESS than she was before. He sees the INSIDE of Sadie, and sees she is a mere shell of her former self. He tries to persuade her to go away with him, rather than return to the U.S. to "pay for her sins" as the missionary has convinced her she must.
I want to avoid spoilers, so I'll just say that events then take place that make Sadie realize she is just fine as she is, and that the missionary was a hypocrite of a human being.
It blows me away that the message of this 72-year-old film is more daring than most messages we get from modern-day films. We are still stuck in a post-code madonna/whore view of women that was clearly not in place in the early 30s.
Despite the not-best acting in the world, this movie is a must-see for its amazing story and portrayal of a real woman!