GarnettTeenage
The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.
Siflutter
It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.
Rexanne
It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
lavatch
Based on the Somerset Maugham short story "Rain," this silent film version of "Sadie Thompson" was daring for its era in the film's prurient content.An apparent "fallen women" attempting to escape her past, Miss Sadie Thompson arrives in the South Pacific only to encounter a stern cleric, Mr. Davidson (Lionel Barrymore), who attempts to save her soul.The early part of the film portrays the flighty, flirtatious Sadie, as she dances to music and starts a relationship with a sailor named O'Hara, who is played by director Raoul Walsh. But it is the repressed Davidson, who takes it upon himself to "rescue" Sadie by sending her back to San Francisco, where she faces certain imprisonment for a crime she did not commit. It doesn't matter to Davidson whether or not she is innocent. His single-minded purpose is to rob Sadie of her spirit in order to save her soul.SPOILER FOLLOWS: The closing of the film reveals the hypocrisy of Davidson, who has confessed that he has been dreaming of Sadie. He crosses the line when he calls her "radiant" and "beautiful." It is at that moment that Sadie recognizes the hypocrisy of a "pig." The film's denouement reveals that Davidson has slit his throat out of his own guilt and repressed feelings.A silent film that is eminently watchable, "Sadie Thompson" demonstrates the dangers of an overly repressive and zealous man, who succumbs to his own human frailty. Swanson is unforgettable in her character transformations and her luminous presence.
JoelGrennon
After watching this silent film i began to realize how large of a roll the music production contributed to the film industry through out America's cinema history. With all the flashy yet realistic effects that are produced now a days its hard to notice what makes a good movie good, and to me a lot of that has to do with the music. The audio of a silent film really helps you understand the language, emotion, and even gestures of a setting for a particular scene. The other portion of this film that i found interesting was the language and slang of the late 1920's. Words like "brazen" "boodwar" "brothel" "scarlet" and even "blood thirsty blizzard" are words were never hear now a days. I guess it just helps with the understanding of the era of silent films.
rdjeffers
Monday March 15, 7pm, The Paramount, Seattle"I guess I'm sorry for everybody in the world - Life is a quaint present from somebody."A struggle between tolerance and zealotry takes place in a south-seas backwater when a religious fanatic, bent on her conversion confronts a woman attempting to hide her identity. Sadie Thompson (Gloria Swanson) languishes in a seedy hotel with the local detachment of bored marines as her only entertainment. The tropical rains fall and Sadie's fellow steamship passengers pass the time, while Alfred Davidson (Lionel Barrymore) determines to alter the social climate.At the twilight of Hollywood's silent era and the zenith of Swanson's stardom, she chose Somerset Maugham's immensely popular short-story as her ultimate vehicle. Directed by and co-starring Raoul Walsh, filmed by legendary cinematographer George Barnes, with art direction by the great William Cameron Menzies, Sadie Thompson is an overlooked masterpiece. Barrymore's malevolent sneering was never better. Aside from being lost in the wake of Hollywood's greatest year, the greatest tragedy of this film is the missing final reel.
DKosty123
This was made in one of the last years years of totally silent films. While it is slow moving it does do an excellent job telling a tragic story, with Lionel Barrymore providing a solid male lead performance to Gloria Swanson's title role.Sadie Thompson is the woman of ill reputation who needs to be saved. This film centers around this story. She has escaped from San Francisco to an island where she is heading to Australia to escape a prison sentence for what she has done. The rest centers around her decision on what she decides to do.Gloria & Lionel are both shown in a good light as the photography in this film is very well done. This is a silent well worth checking out for a student of how silent drama should be done.
