Sadie Thompson
Feeling she would never have as much artistic freedom and independence as she had at that moment, Swanson decided she "wanted to make my Gold Rush." Schenck pleaded with her to do a commercially successful film like The Last of Mrs. Cheyney. Swanson felt it too formulaic, and decided to call upon director Raoul Walsh, who was signed with Fox Film Corporation at the time.
Walsh had been known for bringing controversial material to film, and at their first meeting suggested the John Colton and Clemence Randolph play Rain (1923). The play had been based on a story by W. Somerset Maugham in 1921 titled Miss Thompson. Swanson had seen Jeanne Eagels perform the role twice, and enjoyed it.
However, because of its content, producing the film under the tight restrictions of the Hays Code would be almost impossible. The play was on the unofficial blacklist, and had quietly been banned from filmmaking a year earlier. To try to avoid issues with the code, Swanson and Walsh decided to leave out profanity, rename 'Reverend Davidson' 'Mr. Davidson', and claim it was in the interest of morality to produce the picture as Irving Thalberg had produced The Scarlet Letter (1926) at MGM.
Swanson invited Will Hays over for luncheon and summarized the plot, naming the author and the sticking points. According to Swanson, Hays made a verbal promise that he would have no problem with the making of such a film. Swanson set about getting the rights to the play by having Schenck pretend to buy it in the name of United Artists, never to be used. Thus they were able to obtain the story rights for $60,000 instead of the original $100,000. When news broke concerning just what was intended with the play, the three authors threatened to sue. However, Swanson later contacted Maugham about rights to a sequel, and he offered to grant them for $25,000. Maugham claimed Fox had asked about a sequel at the same time Swanson had bought the original story's rights. The sequel was to follow the further exploits of Sadie in Australia, but was never made.
Swanson and Walsh set about writing the script, and discreetly placed an ad announcing the film, thinking no one noticed, as Charles Lindbergh had just completed his historic transatlantic flight. However, the press picked up on it and sensationalized the story. United Artists received a threatening two-page telegram from the MPAA signed by all its members, including Fox (Walsh's studio) and Hays himself. In addition, the rest of the signors owned several thousand movie houses, and if they refused to screen the film it could be a financial disaster. This was the first time Swanson had heard the name of Joseph P. Kennedy, with whom she would later have an affair, and who would arrange financing for her next few pictures, including Queen Kelly (1929).
Swanson was angered by the response, as she felt those very studios had produced questionable films themselves, and were jealous at not having the chance to produce Rain. After another threatening telegram, she decided to first appeal to the MPAA, and then the newspapers. She only heard back from Marcus Loew, who promised to appeal on her behalf, and since he owned a chain of theatres this eased some of her concerns. Figuring the silence meant the matter had been dropped, Swanson began filming on Sadie Thompson, which already had a quarter of a million dollars invested in it.
Before casting began, the young Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. wanted to audition for the role of Handsome O'Hara. However, Swanson felt he was too young and not right for the role. Lionel Barrymore had been first picked to play Davidson but was thought to be too ill at the time, though he did eventually win the role. Barrymore wore the same outfit for an entire week, aggravating Swanson. She asked some of the crew to tell him to change and wash, which he did indeed do. Aside from this, Swanson was happy with his performance. Walsh hadn't appeared in front of a camera in 8 years, and feared he wouldn't be able to both direct and act at the same time. However, two days into filming, his fears had disappeared.
Much of the filming took place on Santa Catalina Island near Long Beach, California. Swanson took ill shortly after, and met a doctor who started her lifelong love of macrobiotic diets. A week into shooting, Sam Goldwyn called cameraman George Barnes away. Swanson was furious, but the loan contract had allowed Goldwyn to call him away as he pleased. Not wanting to let a hundred extras sit around for days, Swanson and Walsh tried to hire two more cameramen, but both were unsatisfactory. Mary Pickford had offered the services of her favorite cameraman Charles Rosher, who was called in, but despite doing a decent job couldn't match Barnes' work. Gloria, remembering the kindness showed by Marcus Leow and the telegram affair, turned to him again, desperate for help. Although Loew was sick and would soon pass away, he told MGM to give her anyone she wanted. MGM loaned her Oliver Marsh and he completed the picture.
The cameraman fiasco was extremely costly to the production, yet shooting continued. With the picture half finished, it was already well over budget, and Schenck was wary, as Swanson's first picture had also been over budget and underperformed. Swanson talked with her advisors and sold her home in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and offered to sell her New York City penthouse as well.
Despite reports that "dirty" words can be read on the characters' lips, Swanson claims the censors went over everything with a fine-toothed comb. However, Swanson admitted that one line she was shouting at Davidson went, "You'd rip the wings off of a butterfly, you son of a bitch!" when recounting a conversation with Walsh later in life. If the word rain was used in a title, they asked that it be removed. They also wanted to change Davidson's name to something else, but Swanson and Walsh refused.
The film was a success, and was the only silent independent film of Swanson's to do well at the box office. In fact, it was one of her last financially successful films, including the talkies The Trespasser and Sunset Blvd. It went on to make $1,000,000 during its U.S. run. However, at Kennedy's advice, Swanson had sold her distribution rights for the film to Schenck, as Kennedy felt it would be a commercial failure. He also didn't care for the image Swanson portrayed in the film. By this point Queen Kelly had been a disaster, and Swanson regretted it. The film made the top 10 best pictures of the year list as well. It would be Raoul Walsh's final role, as he subsequently lost an eye in an accident.
The film was nominated for awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Gloria Swanson) and Best Cinematography. Swanson did not attend the ceremony, and always felt it was like "comparing apples to oranges".
Contemporary reviews called it racy but excellent, and especially praised Swanson's acting.
Today, everything but the final reel (stopping just after Davidson finds Sadie in his room) exists in good condition.
Read more about this topic: Gloria Swanson