Rain (1932)

A prostitute finds redemption in Pago Pago thanks to a hard missionary man.

Writers:

John Colton (play), Clemence Randolph (play),

Stars:

Fred Howard, Ben Hendricks Jr., William Gargan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred Howard	...	Hodgson (as Frederic Howard)
Ben Hendricks Jr.	...	Griggs (as Ben Hendricks)
William Gargan	...	Sergeant O'Hara
Mary Shaw	...	Ameena
Guy Kibbee	...	Joe Horn
Kendall Lee	...	Mrs. MacPhail
Beulah Bondi	...	Mrs. Davidson
Matt Moore	...	Dr. MacPhail
Walter Huston	...	Alfred Davidson
Walter Catlett	...	Quartermaster Bates
Joan Crawford	...	Sadie Thompson

Storyline

For residents on the idyllic South Seas island of Pago Pago, life is simple until a boat arrives carrying two couples, the Davidsons (who are missionaries), the MacPhails and a prostitute named Sadie Thompson. Davidson is more than just a religious zealot; he's a mad man. When the boat, which was en route to another port, is temporarily stranded on the island due to a possible Cholera outbreak on-board, Sadie spends her time "partying" with the American soldiers stationed on the island. Her behavior, however, is more than the Davidsons can stand and soon Mr. Davidson confronts Sadie about her evil ways and offers salvation. When Sadie rebels and the attempted redemption does not go as planned, Davidson arranges to have her sent back to San Francisco, where she fled some years ago due to mysterious personal issues. Davidson soon becomes unhinged and thus begins a series of surprising events which culminate in disaster.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | missionary | cholera | soldier | palm tree | 

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Taglines:

A woman without shame. A woman without soul.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1932 (USA)

Also Known As:

Regn

Filming Locations:

Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Feature Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 94 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Joan Crawford is listed above the title and Walter Huston in a frame after the title, the comprehensive cast list later is listed in order of appearance, with Huston listed ninth and Crawford last.

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Goofs

Camera's shadow falls across the backs of the missionaries as they sit around the table in the general store.

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Quotes

Alfred Davidson: From now on you will be strong. There is to be no more fear. Radiant... beautiful... you will be one of the daughters of the King. That's what you are now, Sadie, one of the daughters of the King... radiant... beautiful.

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Connections

Version of Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)

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Soundtracks

"Wabash Blues"
(1921) (uncredited)
Music by Fred Meinken
Lyrics by Dave Ringle

User Reviews

A basically underrated movie

Unlike most people, I like both this movie and Crawford's performance, though the sudden and complete change to and from her religion-inspired catatonic state is a bit too rash and unconvincing (not due only to her acting: the film is so constructed). Huston plays a very sinister character. His brainwash on Sadie Thompson is appalling, and the scene when she succumbs while he recites the Lord's Prayer is most disturbing. Milestone's dynamic camera work is indeed overdone, but it is clear that it was a somewhat naïve attempt to counteract the tendency to sluggishness of the early talkies (compare with 'Anna Christie' with Garbo, for instance). The director gives the rain an important role as a powerful surrounding element of nature, almost trying to treat it as a living character, much like what Sjostrom did in 'The Wind'(1929); it doesn't entirely come through, but it was a worthy effort. The quick editing on Crawford's entrance (repeated in the end) is also impressive.