When seen in the Library of Congress archive edition (out on VCI at its full 93" Pre-Code length in superb picture quality*), Lewis Milestone’s 1932 film of W. Somerset Maugham’s once ubiquitous tale of hooker & hypocrite butting heads on a tropical isle till something’s gotta give is much the best version. Maxwell Anderson’s screenplay moves pieces around, but largely sticks to the Colton/Randolph stage adaptation that added romance & Marines to the mix. These theatrical origins prove something of a problem for Joan Crawford’s Miss Sadie Thompson. On a pass from M-G-M, along with regular lenser Oliver Marsh, the two are both on fire, but Crawford’s lack of stage technique, unvaried of pace or tonal variety, threatens to make longer speeches monotonous. No matter, physically she’s so perfectly cast, it makes up for anything that’s missing. Especially with director Lewis Milestone still working thru silent film technique, and knowing full well the effect Crawford will make when she takes off the good-time gal makeup and shows her redeemed, naked face. (We’re suddenly confronted by a staggering beauty. She never looked this good before or after.) As the religious zealot who temporarily tames her free spirit before succumbing to his own testosteronic impulses, Walter Huston sweeps the board of anyone who ever played the role. (On film, that’s Lionel Barrymore & José Ferrer.) The rest of the cast also well chosen, with store/hotel owner Guy Kibbee a mass of likable rotting sweaty flesh, only upstaged by his even larger native wife.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *VCI also has a decent, if unrestored, reference print of the censored cut, about 74". (It lists art director Richard Day as Richard Ray in the credits.) But it’s the improved picture quality of the original release version, not the restored cuts. that makes the biggest difference,
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Here’s the semi-musicalized Rita Hayworth version, MISS SADIE THOMSPSON/’53. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2021/09/miss-sadie-thompson-1953.html
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