Release
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 million during its US 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 the last film Raoul Walsh acted in, as he soon lost an eye in an accident.
The film was nominated by the Academy Awards for a 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 found it excellent and especially praised Swanson's acting.
Read more about this topic: Sadie Thompson
Famous quotes containing the word release:
“The near touch of death may be a release into life; if only it will break the egoistic will, and release that other flow.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“The steel decks rock with the lightning shock, and shake with the
great recoil,
And the sea grows red with the blood of the dead and reaches for his spoil—
But not till the foe has gone below or turns his prow and runs,
Shall the voice of peace bring sweet release to the men behind the
guns!”
—John Jerome Rooney (1866–1934)
“The shallow consider liberty a release from all law, from every constraint. The wise man sees in it, on the contrary, the potent Law of Laws.”
—Walt Whitman (1819–1892)