The Story of Temple Drake

Released May 6, 1933

1h 10m

Drama

List

86%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

65%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

A hedonistic woman kills her rapist and admits to it during trial to save a man who is falsely accused.

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

The film, directed by Stephen Roberts, is a progressive provocation riding solely on its considerable shock value as well as a signature role for actress Miriam Hopkins.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 10, 2020

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

Essential Pre-code cinema? Yes.

Rated: 7/10

Jan 9, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Made with the full knowledge of how society at large felt about "girls like her," and those stereotypes of the "loose woman" are consistently interrogated and subverted.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jan 4, 2020

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

quite a good film apart from its scandalous reputation, which tends to overshadow any of its other accomplishments

Rated: 3/4

Dec 27, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

If anyone needs an example of the sort of movie that forced the Hays Office prudes to become moral watchdogs over the American film industry, The Story of Temple Drake will serve just fine.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 15, 2019

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Dated melodrama.

Rated: C+

Nov 8, 2012

Full Review

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acsdoug D

Excellent pre-coder with an excellent performance by the lovely Miriam Hopkins.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/21/24

Full Review

Steve D

I applaud Hopkins but she alone can't make it do anything but shock.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/03/24

Full Review

Tom M

The film has a reputation for being racy and scandalous for its era. It may be, but there are many pre-code movies that are far more lewd and suggestive than this. Hopkins is perfect as she goes from spoiled to victim to redemption. Perhaps her finest dramatic performance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/23/20

Full Review

Audience Member

I've never been a huge Faulkner fan, but I wanted to watch this because it was so controversial at the time that it was banned and remains difficult to find even today. This movie is one of the films that was directly responsible for the enactment of the Hays Code. I don't like people telling me what I'm not supposed to watch, so I sought it out. It's a good story that addresses some of the misogynistic views toward sexual assault that we still cling to today. The last time I checked it was available in its entirety on Youtube. Watch it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

great supporting cast

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Disappointing pre-code film. While certainly dark in tone, it doesn't have the punch of Faulkner's novel.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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Stephen Roberts

Director

Oscar Apfel

District Attorney

Clem Beauchamp

Jellybean

Arthur Belasco

Wharton

John Carradine

Courtroom spectator

William Collier Jr.

Toddy Gowan

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Synopsis

A hedonistic woman kills her rapist and admits to it during trial to save a man who is falsely accused.

Director: Stephen Roberts
Producer: Benjamin Glazer
Screenwriter: William Faulkner, Oliver H.P. Garrett, Maurine Dallas Watkins
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 6, 1933, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2018
Runtime: 1h 10m