Rain
About Rain
A possible cholera outbreak puts a westbound ship ashore at Pago Pago. Among the passengers are the missionary Alfred Davidson, his wife, and Sadie Thompson, a prostitute who drinks with the Marines. Sergeant Tim O'Hara, whom she calls Handsome, falls for her. Davidson has the governor order her deported to San Francisco, where she is wanted and says she was framed. She wanted to reach Sydney instead. In an argument she converts and agrees to go back and face jail. The night before she sails, O'Hara asks her to marry him and hide until the Sydney boat. She refuses. Davidson then goes into her room. The assault is offscreen. In the morning he is found on the beach with his throat cut. Sadie drops the conversion and leaves for Sydney with O'Hara.
Cast & crew
More about Rain
Lewis Milestone produced and directed. Maxwell Anderson wrote the screenplay from the 1922 play Rain by John Colton and Clemence Randolph, itself from W. Somerset Maugham's 1921 story "Miss Thompson," later retitled "Rain." United Artists released it on 12 October 1932. Joan Crawford, loaned by MGM, plays Sadie. Walter Huston plays Davidson. William Gargan plays Sergeant Tim O'Hara. Beulah Bondi plays Mrs. Davidson. Oliver T. Marsh photographed it. Alfred Newman wrote the music. Richard Day designed the production. W. Duncan Mansfield edited. South Sea scenes were shot on Santa Catalina Island. Other footage was made at what is now Crystal Cove State Park.
Themes
Making
Crawford came over from MGM on loan. After the Los Angeles opening, Milestone took scenery and talk out of the cut and gave more of the picture to the Davidsons.
Reviews
Motion Picture Herald found the film slow, writing that the drive to be powerful had cost it spontaneity, and called Crawford and Huston satisfactory. Variety, 18 October 1932, said assigning Sadie to Crawford was a mistake and that the part was beyond her range.
Look
Oliver T. Marsh shot the island scenes on Santa Catalina and the coastal scenes at Crystal Cove.
Music
Alfred Newman wrote the score. The film uses "St. Louis Blues" and "Baby Face."
Preservation
The film survives. Copies are on Wikimedia Commons and the Internet Archive.
Notes
- Jeanne Eagels had played Sadie on stage. Gloria Swanson starred in the 1928 silent Sadie Thompson. Rita Hayworth starred in Miss Sadie Thompson (1953).
- A Hollywood Reporter item said Ann Dvorak was once considered for Sadie.
- The AMPAS file notes that Milestone recut the film after the Los Angeles premiere, cutting scenery and dialogue and building up Mr. and Mrs. Davidson.
- AFI records two running times, 85 minutes and 92 or 93. The release figure usually given is 92.
- The soundtrack uses W. C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" and "Baby Face" by Harry Akst and Benny Davis.
- Guy Kibbee plays Joe Horn. Matt Moore plays Dr. Robert MacPhail. Walter Catlett is also in the cast.
Scenes
- Davidson gets the governor to deport Sadie to San Francisco.
- O'Hara offers marriage and a hiding place until the Sydney boat. She refuses.
- Davidson is found on the beach the next morning. Sadie leaves with O'Hara.
Influenced by
- W. Somerset Maugham's story Miss Thompson (1921)
- John Colton and Clemence Randolph's play Rain (1922)
Also available
- Internet Archive (rain1932)
- Wikimedia Commons (Rain (1932).webm)
