Rain (1932 feature film)

This often forgotten pre-Code gem is directed by Lewis Milestone, the man responsible for All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) and The Front Page (1931). When missionary Alfred Davidson (Walter Huston), his wife, and prostitute Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford) find themselves stuck on an island in the South Pacific due to a cholera scare, Davidson tries to reform Thompson while battling his own sinful thoughts.

Why Watch It? Crawford is often linked to her Academy Award–winning role in Mildred Pierce (1945) and now, thanks to Ryan Murphy, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane (1962). But Crawford’s career spans over five decades, beginning in the silent era. By the time Rain was released, Crawford already had three dozen films under her belt — Our Dancing Daughters (1928), Dance, Fools, Dance (1931), and Possessed (1931) just to name a few. Rain’s Sadie Thompson is one of Crawford’s most scandalously entertaining but often overlooked performances.

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