Rain (1932)

Set in the South Seas, a ship on its way to Samoa is stranded due to a cholera outbreak which necessitates its few passengers stay at the island's general store. Among the passengers is a prostitute (Joan Crawford), a religious fanatic (Walter Huston) and his wife (Beulah Bondi). The preacher takes it upon himself to have the prostitute deported back to San Francisco where a prison sentence awaits her. Based on the 1922 play by John Colton and Clemence Randolph by way of the short story MISS THOMPSON by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Lewis Milestone (OF MICE AND MEN). The play had previously been filmed in 1928 with Gloria Swanson and would be filmed again in 1953 with Rita Hayworth. This pre code entry is the least of the three versions. It's a rather stagnant movie and Milestone's direction does nothing to alleviate the monotony of an oppressive narrative. While on the face of it, Crawford as Sadie Thompson might seem like good casting (she was borrowed from MGM), the role seems beyond her capabilities. Crawford herself thought she was awful in it. Her "redemption" scene is unbelievable and she seems to be playing at the character rather than playing the character. With William Gargan, Guy Kibbee and Matt Moore.