Miss Sadie Thompson
Miss Sadie Thompson | |
---|---|
Directed by | Curtis Bernhardt |
Screenplay by | Harry Kleiner |
Based on | "Miss Thompson" byW. Somerset Maugham |
Produced by | Jerry Wald |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Charles Lawton Jr. |
Edited by | Viola Lawrence |
Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | The Beckworth Corporation |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $2.9 million (US)[1] |
Miss Sadie Thompsonis a 19533-DAmericanmusicalromanticdramafilm directed byCurtis Bernhardtand starringRita Hayworth,José Ferrer,andAldo Ray.The film was released byColumbia Pictures.The film is based onW. Somerset Maugham's 1921 short story "Miss Thompson"(later retitled" Rain "). Other film versions includeSadie Thompson(1928) starringGloria Swanson,Rain(1932) starringJoan Crawford,andDirty Gertie from Harlem U.S.A.(1946).
The film received a nomination forBest Original Song( "Sadie Thompson's Song" ) at the26th Academy Awards.
Plot[edit]
Abar girlfrom Hawaii, a religious zealot, and a love-struck Marine struggle with sin and salvation just after World War II while Sadie Thompson kicks out several songs, including "Blue Pacific Blues".
Cast[edit]
- Rita Hayworthas Sadie Thompson
- José Ferreras Alfred Davidson
- Aldo Rayas Sgt. Phil O'Hara
- Russell Collinsas Dr. Robert MacPhail
- Diosa Costelloas Ameena Horn
- Harry Bellaveras Joe Horn
- Wilton Graffas Governor
- Peggy Converseas Mrs. Margaret Davidson
- Henry Slateas Pvt. Griggs
- Rudy Bondas Pvt. Hodges
- Charles Bronsonas Pvt. Edwards (as Charles Buchinsky)
- Frances Morri as Mrs. MacPhail
Production[edit]
In February 1952, producerJerry Waldannounced he had the film rights to the play adaptation ofRainfrom producerLester Cowan.Wald had a production unit at RKO withNorman Krasnaand wanted to make it as a musical in color.[2]
In October 1953, Wald left RKO to become a vice president and executive producer at Columbia Pictures. He planned to personally produce two films a year and said one of these would beRain.It would star Rita Hayworth, who was the biggest star at the studio.[3]Harry Kleiner was assigned to write the script.[4]Plans were made to shoot the film in 3-D.[5]
This was Hayworth's third film after her marriage to PrinceAly Khanhad kept her off screen for four years. The public eagerly welcomed her return in two previous filmsAffair in TrinidadandSalomesoColumbiagaveMiss Sadie Thompsonan "A" film budget.
"It would give her the chance to not be glamorous", said Wald.[6]
3-D filmshad become a fad, with some 3-D films drawing huge crowds in major cities, so it was used as well. Exteriors were filmed on the island ofKauai,Hawaiiand interiors on the Columbia lot.[citation needed]
The original story of sin and redemption was sanitized to appease theProduction Codeand several musical numbers were inserted to spice up the tepid reworked plot. As with her previous films, Hayworth's singing was dubbed, this time byJo Ann Greer.[citation needed]
In August 1953, Hayworth and Ray shot some additional romantic scenes.[7]
By the time of the premiere on December 23, 1953, interest in 3-D had died down considerably. After a two-week run, all 3-D prints were pulled. The film was given a national release "flat", in other words, in regular prints, minus the 3-D.[citation needed]
The film was banned in some places, including Memphis.[8][9][10]
Reviews[edit]
Varietywrote, "She catches the feel of the title character well, even to braving completely deglamorizing makeup, costuming and photography to fit her physical appearance to that of the bawdy, shady lady that was Sadie Thompson".[11]The Village Voicewrote, "Although its Hays Code sanitizing is mitigated somewhat by the glorious extravagances of 1950s cinema (it's a Technicolor, 3-D star vehicle with musical numbers), Miss Sadie Thompson (1953) is a scoured version ofRain(1932). "[12]Bosley Crowther ofThe New York Timeswrote, "The character of Sadie is drained of considerable point by the prudence of the producers. And Miss Hayworth is left with a role in which she is able to inject very little, outside her own particular brand of appeal".[13]
Availability[edit]
- A dual projection polarized 3-D print ofMiss Sadie Thompsonwas screened at The World 3-D Expo 2006 September 10, 2006 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, Ca.
- A 3-D version of the trailer can be seen in the Blu-ray Collection "3-D Rarities" from Flicker Alley.
- A VHS full screen edition ofMiss Sadie Thompsonwas released in 1994 but is no longer available.
- A DVD full screen edition ofMiss Sadie Thompsonwas released in 2001 but is no longer available.
- Another edition of the DVD is available as part of "The Films of Rita Hayworth" 5-disc box set.
- A 3DBlu-rayis now available in the US as of July 12, 2016, from Twilight Time Movies.[14][15]
References[edit]
- ^'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1954',Variety Weekly,January 5, 1955
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Feb 13, 1952). "WALD AND KRASNA TO REMAKE 'RAIN': Musical Edition in Technicolor Planned for Old Stage Hit -- -- Peter Lawford in Role".New York Times.p. 35.
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Nov 2, 1952). "HOLLYWOOD CHANGE: Appointment of Wald as Columbia's Top Producer Held Significant -- Addenda".New York Times.p. X5.
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Nov 3, 1952). "LADD PLANS MOVIE OF A WHALING TRIP: Actor to Make 'White South,' About Antarctic Expedition, Abroad for Irving Allen".New York Times.p. 36.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (Nov 25, 1952). "Natural Vision Plan Aimed at Hayworth; Film Refused Code Approval".Los Angeles Times.p. 21.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (Jan 3, 1954). "De Mille Films Drew $600 Million at the Box Office".Los Angeles Times.p. D5.
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Aug 31, 1953). "SONG-DANCE PLUM FOR JUDY HOLLIDAY: Actress to Star in Her First Film Musical, 'My Sister Eileen,' Under Columbia Banner".New York Times.p. 22.
- ^"FUGITIVE DEL GADO SEEKS TO RETURN: Former Policeman Who Fled Indictment Makes Bid to Come Back From Mexico".Los Angeles Times.Jan 17, 1954. p. 3.
- ^Bond, Beverly G.; Sherman, Janann (2003-01-01).Memphis: In Black and White.Arcadia Publishing. p. 104.ISBN978-0-7385-2441-2.
- ^Mayer, Geoff (2021-12-09).Hollywood's Melodramatic Imagination: Film Noir, the Western and Other Genres from the 1920s to the 1950s.McFarland. p. 182.ISBN978-1-4766-7477-3.
- ^"Miss Sadie Thompson Review - Read Variety's Analysis of the Movie Miss Sadie Thompson".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-09-07.Retrieved2006-10-26.
- ^[1][dead link]
- ^"Review – Movies".New York Times.Retrieved12 August2017.
- ^"Miss Sadie Thompson 3D Blu-ray".Blu-ray.com.Retrieved12 August2017.
- ^"New Releases – Twilight Time Movies".Twilighttimemovies.com.Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2017.Retrieved12 August2017.
External links[edit]
- 1953 films
- 1953 musical films
- 1953 romantic drama films
- 1953 3D films
- 1950s musical drama films
- 1950s romantic musical films
- American 3D films
- American musical drama films
- American romantic drama films
- American romantic musical films
- Columbia Pictures films
- Films about the United States Marine Corps
- Films based on short fiction
- Films based on works by W. Somerset Maugham
- Films directed by Curtis Bernhardt
- Films set in American Samoa
- Films shot in Hawaii
- Films with screenplays by Harry Kleiner
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s American films