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Sadie Thompson

Play trailer Poster for Sadie Thompson Released Jan 7, 1928 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A young, beautiful prostitute named Sadie Thompson (Gloria Swanson) arrives on the South Pacific island of Pago Pago looking for honest work, and falls for Timothy O'Hara (Raoul Walsh), an American sailor who is unfazed by her unsavory past. However, Mr. Davidson (Lionel Barrymore), a missionary who arrived on the island at the same time, aims to "save" Sadie from her sinful life and petitions to have her separated from her beau and deported back to San Francisco.

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Miss Swanson has made a serious, sincere and largely successful effort to bring a great play to the screen, without sacrificing too much of its greatness. Oct 5, 2021 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Gloria Swanson received her first Best Actress Oscar nomination for the silent version of Somerset Maugham's famous story, directed by Raoul Walsh. Rated: B Apr 27, 2011 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion Confirms Walsh's robust chivalry and, as in Queen Kelly, Swanson's personal triumph Sep 25, 2009 Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore are terrific. Rated: 5/5 Jan 1, 2008 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 3/5 Jul 3, 2005 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Fair drama, of note for Raoul Walsh as actor, and comments against the Religious Right May 28, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (20) audience reviews
Louisa E It's such a shame that the most exciting part of the movie is missing. It was great to see such terrific performances by Barrymore and Swanson. The plot was good but quite slow and the character portrayal was very flat and one-dimensional. Good job on highlighting the dangers of religious hypocrisy and fanaticism. I think I would have loved the ending. 7.5/10. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/08/23 Full Review Audience Member Smart and sophisticated silent movie well worth your time to plod through! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member This was a racy film for a time, and it was praised by critics as was her Swanson's performance. This was perhaps the best performance of her career. It was a financial and critical success and was the only silent film of hers to do well at the box office. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Steve D The acting and story are great for its time. The moral message might be better. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I was born in 1956 and I have seen lots of black and white movies until color arrived along with awesome advances in technology. And thanks to TCM I have take. On a great respect for the silent movie era. Not enough credit is given in that film making had to begin somewhere and sometime. As for this movie, forget its flaws because of it being worn out. Swanson and Barrymore are awesome in this movie. Anyone who does not appreciate it because it is a silent movie has no business rating any movie at all. Thank you TCM for never allowing us to forget! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/19 Full Review Audience Member The best romance movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sadie Thompson

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Sadie Thompson

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Movie Info

Synopsis A young, beautiful prostitute named Sadie Thompson (Gloria Swanson) arrives on the South Pacific island of Pago Pago looking for honest work, and falls for Timothy O'Hara (Raoul Walsh), an American sailor who is unfazed by her unsavory past. However, Mr. Davidson (Lionel Barrymore), a missionary who arrived on the island at the same time, aims to "save" Sadie from her sinful life and petitions to have her separated from her beau and deported back to San Francisco.
Director
Raoul Walsh
Producer
Gloria Swanson, Raoul Walsh
Screenwriter
Raoul Walsh
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Gloria Swanson Pictures
Genre
Drama
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 7, 1928, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 8, 2017
Runtime
1h 37m