Sadie McKee (1934)

A working girl's fortunes improve when she marries into money, but happiness is not so easily won.

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

John Meehan (screen play), Viña Delmar (based on a story by)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Sadie McKee Brennan
Gene Raymond	...	Tommy Wallace
Franchot Tone	...	Michael Alderson
Edward Arnold	...	Jack Brennan
Esther Ralston	...	Dolly Merrick
Earl Oxford	...	Stooge
Jean Dixon	...	Opal
Leo G. Carroll	...	Phelps Finnegan (as Leo Carroll)
Akim Tamiroff	...	Riccori
Zelda Sears	...	Mrs. Craney
Helen Ware	...	Mrs. McKee
Gene Austin	...	Cafe Entertainer
Candy Candido	...	Candy of 'Coco and Candy' - Bass Player
Otto Heimel	...	Coco of 'Coco and Candy' - Guitar Player

Storyline

The life of Sadie McKee takes many twists and turns. She starts as the daughter of the cook for the well off Alderson family. Lawyer Michael Alderson likes Sadie but she runs off to New York City with boyfriend Tommy to get married. Before they get married, Tommy takes up with show girl Dolly and deserts her. Sadie stays in New York and becomes involved with Michael's boss, millionaire Brennan. She marries the chronically alcoholic Brennan for his money. Michael views her as a golddigger at first, but then sees her help Brennan beat his alcoholism. Sadie leaves Brennan to try and find Tommy when she hears that her old flame is in trouble. Little does she know just how much trouble.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | new york city | millionaire | cook | alcoholic | 

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Taglines:

She rose from calicos to silks, with men as the stepping stones! (print Ad- Leader-Post, ((Regina, Sask.)) 27 June 1934)

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 1934 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abenteuer einer schönen Frau

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many people who are in studio records/casting call lists as cast members did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names): Alice Mae (Secretary at Michael's), Sam McDaniel (Red Cap), William Welsh (Conductor), Doris Kemper (Nurse) and Eugene Borden (Ship's Bugler)

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Quotes

Michael Alderson: Hey, what happened to those freckles?
Sadie McKee Brennan: [laughs] I outgrew them, I guess.
Michael Alderson: [Looking her over] You did a pretty good job of outgrowing a lot of things.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Mouth 3 (2018)

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Soundtracks

Temptation
(1933) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Played at the nightclub

User Reviews

Joan Crawford, cook's daughter

Joan Crawford is "Sadie McKee" in this 1934 film also starring Gene Raymond, Edward Arnold, Franchot Tone, and Jean Dixon. Crawford is the daughter of the cook for the wealthy Alderson family. The young man of the family, Michael (Tone) has obviously fallen for Sadie, but her heart belongs to loser Tommy Wallace (Raymond), who has just been fired for a malfeasance. Sadie runs off to New York with Tommy, and the two wind up in the rooming house of Mrs. Craney. The next day, they are to be married at City Hall at noon. But showgirl Dolly Merrick (Esther Ralston) who also lives at the rooming house, hears Tommy's dulcet tones and convinces him to forget marriage, leave town, and take a job in her traveling show.

Another women rooming at Mrs. Craney's is Opal, who gets Sadie a job at her club. There Sadie meets the filthy rich, drunken Jack Brennan, whom she marries. It turns out that Jack's drinking has all but destroyed his health. Though Sadie can't stop thinking about Tommy, she is determined to help Jack quit drinking and regain his health.

Pretty good melodrama, with Crawford wearing some fabulous outfits. Esther Ralston was a gorgeous blonde and is a lively Dolly Merrick, and Jean Dixon gives a good performance as Opal.

The debonair Franchot Tone gives a smooth performance as Michael, and Gene Raymond sings and acts pleasantly enough as Tommy, who manages to be likable though he walked out on Sadie.

Crawford made a lot of this type of film -- the working girl who moves up in class -- and they were very popular. She gives an appealing performance, and she was one actress who could look and act like a hard-working girl who came from a slum and also pull off being glamorous and wealthy.

Worth seeing.