Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Curtis Bernhardt

Writers:

Harry Kleiner (writer)
W. Somerset Maugham (story)

Release Date:

23 December 1953 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

RITA TURNS ON THE HEAT IN 3D (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

At a lonely military outpost on American Samoa, sticky heat alternates with torrential rain. A ship quarantine strands here Sadie Thompson...

Plot Keywords:

Fight | Lip Synching | Kissing | Bar | Doctor

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Rita Hayworth	...	Sadie Thompson
José Ferrer	...	Alfred Davidson (as Jose Ferrer)
Aldo Ray	...	Sgt. Phil O'Hara
Russell Collins	...	Dr. Robert MacPhail
Diosa Costello	...	Ameena Horn
Harry Bellaver	...	Joe Horn
Wilton Graff	...	Governor
Peggy Converse	...	Mrs. Margaret Davidson
Henry Slate	...	Pvt. Griggs
Rudy Bond	...	Pvt. Hodges
Charles Bronson	...	Pvt. Edwards (as Charles Buchinsky)
Frances Morris	...	Mrs. MacPhail
Peter Chong	...	Chung
John Grossett	...	Preacher

Also Known As:

Rain (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

3 Channel Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) (2005) | UK:A (original rating) (1954) (cut) | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (cable rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #16538, Adult Audience) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The hotel that W. Somerset Maugham stayed at in American Samoa (the model for Trader Horn's) still stands, but for years has been a general store.

Goofs:

Continuity: Sergeant O'Hara's shirt is wet with sweat as he leaves the radio tent but dry as he exits.

Quotes:

Pvt. Edwards: What do you want me to do, evaporate?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pappoudes en drasei: (#1.2)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

A MARINE, A MARINE, A MARINE

Rita Hayworth + this story in 3D ...

After reading other reviews- wow. It's not that bad. Yes, the story has been done, but Hayworth makes it well worth watching.

And the theme underlying the story is still relevant. Sadie Thompson is a woman of questionable repute, living on a South Sea island trying to re-make her life.The Jose Ferrer character is effectively odious. A man hung up on projecting his moral issues on the nearest target. This happens to be Miss Sadie.

I recall seeing this film on an TV afternoon movie festival, when I was very young. I enjoyed it. Maybe if we were less jaded we would find the story more enjoyable. This was made in 1953, and the morality issues then are still present today.

The sets are beautiful. This was filmed on the sparsely populated Hawaiian island, Kuaui. Overall even if you are not a major Hayworth fan, the story has redeeming aspects. I will have to watch "Rain" again with Joan Crawford to compare, but it is so dated, this film is worth a look.8/10