Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Sadie Thompson

Sadie Thompson

Seen it?

1928 | 97 min | Drama, Romance

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite little lasting buzz. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Titanic or Casablanca, start here.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1928: an older pace and style.

A young, beautiful prostitute named Sadie Thompson arrives on the South Pacific island of Pago Pago looking for honest work and falls for Timothy O'Hara, an American sailor who is unfazed by her unsavory past. However, Mr. Davidson, 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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    83% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsSolid

    Nominated for 2 Oscars.

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $8 million worldwide on a $1 million budget

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 18K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Raoul Walsh

  • Gloria SwansonSadie Thompson
  • Lionel BarrymoreAlfred Davidson
  • Blanche FridericiMrs. Alfred Davidson
  • Charles LaneDr. Angus McPhail
  • Florence MidgleyMrs. Angus McPhail
  • James A. MarcusJoe Horn
  • Sophia ArtegaAmeena
  • Will StantonQuartermaster Bates
  • Raoul WalshSergeant Timothy 'Tim' O'Hara
  • Charles SullivanMarine (Uncredited)