Review of Miss Sadie Thompson

W. Somerset Maugham's story "Miss Thompson", previously filmed in 1928 as "Sadie Thompson" with Gloria Swanson, and again as "Rain" with Joan Crawford in 1932, is altered for this brightly-colored 1953 version. Rita Hayworth gets the showy title role here, and she's erratic but serviceable as the wild party girl on the run from police who ends up on a tropical island along with two traveling couples, including a disapproving stuffed shirt who is determined to reform her. Sadie is a cabaret entertainer this time--and a maybe/maybe not prostitute--while her redeemer is no longer a missionary but an important figurehead who specializes in shutting down places of immorality. Aldo Ray livens things up as a smitten Marine sergeant stationed on the island who falls in love with Sadie, but dull, silver-haired Jose Ferrer never convinces as Mr. Davidson while the stereotypical natives act as if they just wandered over from the 1932 version! As for Miss Hayworth, she's quite fetching in the early half of the picture--flirtatious and fun-loving--but the seriousness of the second act defeats her, along with everyone else. The narrative, unsteady to begin with, completely breaks down in the final reel; Sadie gets her happy ending, but it's the audience who is left marooned. ** from ****