Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford) is a prostitute who ends up quarantined on a South Pacific island due to a cholera outbreak on her ship. She is not shy about drink or dance and appears to be very popular with the soldiers stationed on the island. One soldier in particular, Sgt. Tim “Handsome” O'Hara (William Gargan) finds her particularly attractive. So much so that he falls for her instantly and can‘t seem to get enough of her attention.
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Mr. & Mrs. Davidson (Walter Houston & Beulah Bondi) are hardcore traveling missionaries who were also aboard ship. They were traveling with companions Dr. & Mrs. MacPhail (Matt Moore & Kendall Lee) who are not quite so zealous as the Davidson couple. Even so, this makes for a very bad mix when they all end up at the only general store hotel on the island. The constant torrential rains begin to grate on everyone's nerves.
When Sadie and “the boys” decide to have a little party, Mr. Davidson does not take it lightly and barges in on the group to shut them down. Having none of the interruption, the soldiers promptly toss him out on his ear. Thus begins Davidson's overly righteous campaign to reform Sadie and have her deported. Sadie is mortified because she knows that if she gets sent back to San Francisco, she will go to prison in relation to her previously professional dealings. At first, the religious zealot is not taken seriously when he goes to see the governor of the island. With steady pressure and influence from The States, the governor relents by finally putting in an order for Sadie to be deported on the next ship out. She begs and pleads with Davidson and even tries to enlist the sympathies of Dr. MacPhail. When nothing appears to work Sadie becomes despondent. She slowly begins a transformation by loosing the gaudy make up, giving up the parties and swearing off the booze. Reluctantly, she agrees to go back to California to face her punishment.
Even Sgt. Handsome can't believe the difference when he tries to rescue her by snatching her up and putting her on a boat to Australia where he wishes to marry her. She flatly refuses and the whole scene is interrupted by Mr. Davison's return from a native feast. Handsome is heartbroken and returns to base fearing he will never see Sadie again. Davidson appears to be a little more mental. He is entranced seeming to be intoxicated by the native drums and dance.
The review of this Movie prepared by Talea
