Sadie Thompson (1928)
(97 minutes), 35mm b/w negatives (incomplete); 1987 last reel re-creation negative, 14 in. Mag Track, 35mm Full Coat
Producer and Star: Gloria Swanson
Director: Raoul Walsh
Grant Awarded to: Amy Heller, Milestone Film & Video
Archive: Wisconsin Center for Film & Theater Research
Poster from Sadie Thompson (1928)
The landmark film featuring the first sympathetic portrayal of a sex worker, Sadie Thompson (1927) was directed by Raoul Walsh and based on W. Somerset Maugham’s short story Rain. Set on the remote South Pacific island of Tutuila, American Samoa, the film was produced by and stars Gloria Swanson in a powerful performance as Sadie Thompson, a spirited and independent woman fleeing a troubled past in San Francisco. She arrives on the island hoping to start anew, taking temporary lodging in a general store run by a friendly trader.
Still from Sadie Thompson (1928)
Sadie’s vibrant personality and free-spirited lifestyle quickly capture the attention of the U.S. Marines stationed nearby, especially Sergeant Tim O’Hara (played by Raoul Walsh himself), a good-hearted and rough-edged man who falls in love with her. However, Sadie’s attempt at a fresh start is threatened by the arrival of Alfred Davidson (Lionel Barrymore), a stern and self-righteous missionary. Davidson, accompanied by his wife, is appalled by Sadie’s behavior and determines to reform her. Under his oppressive influence, Sadie undergoes an emotional and spiritual struggle. Davidson pressures local authorities to deport her back to San Francisco, where she fears imprisonment due to her past. Desperate and distraught, Sadie submits to his religious zealotry. She repents and prepares to return to the mainland.
In a shocking turn, Davidson, unable to control his repressed desires, assaults Sadie. Overwhelmed by guilt and inner torment, he takes his own life. With the hypocrisy of her accuser exposed, Sadie regains her dignity and hope for redemption. Sadie and O’Hara make plans to leave the island together, suggesting the possibility of a new and honest life. With the last reel re-created using the original script, film and stills, Sadie Thompson remains a classic of silent cinema and another legendary performance in Gloria Swanson’s career.
Still from Sadie Thompson (1928)
Swanson was not only a celebrated actress but also a trailblazer behind the scenes. In 1925, she took control of her career by producing her own films with Sadie Thompson (1928) and the ambitious Queen Kelly (1929), directed by Erich von Stroheim—an artistic triumph that was never fully released in her lifetime due to creative conflicts and scandal. Though her career waned in the late 1930s, Swanson staged a legendary comeback with Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950), in which she played Norma Desmond, a faded silent star clinging to past glory. The performance was widely hailed as one of the greatest in film history and earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Gloria Swanson in Sadie Thompson (1928)
Swanson remained active in theater, television, and fashion, and was an outspoken advocate for health, vegetarianism, and spiritual exploration. Her autobiography, Swanson on Swanson (1980), revealed her intelligence, wit, and resilience. It quickly became a bestseller.
Throughout her life, Swanson defied the limitations placed on women in Hollywood, reinventing herself across decades and leaving a legacy as both a consummate performer and a savvy, independent artist. She remains an enduring symbol of cinema’s golden age and the complexities of stardom.
