Editing Sadie Thompson (film) (section)

==Production==
[[File:Gloria Swanson in Sadie Thompson, 1928 silent film, directed by Raoul Walsh.webp|thumb|Gloria Swanson as Sadie Thompson]]
In 1927, Swanson released ''[[The Love of Sunya]]'' her first independent film for [[United Artists]], which was filmed on her terms in New York City, and it was the opening night film of the [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theatre]]. The production had been a disaster, and Swanson felt it would receive a mediocre reception at best.<ref>{{cite book|last=Soister|first=John T.|title=American Silent Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy Feature Films, 1913-1929|year=2012|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-786-48790-5|pages=348–349}}</ref> On the advice of [[Joseph Schenck]], she relented and returned to Hollywood to prepare for a new picture.<ref name="Swanson 1981 p.294">Swanson 1981 p.294</ref> Feeling she would never have as much artistic freedom and independence as she had at that moment, Swanson decided she "wanted to make my ''[[The Gold Rush|Gold Rush]]''," referring to a recent film by Charlie Chaplin, which became perhaps his most celebrated work. 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lombardi|first=Frederic|title=Allan Dwan and the Rise and Decline of the Hollywood Studios|year=2013|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-786-49040-0|page=175}}</ref>

Walsh had been known for bringing controversial material to film. At their first meeting, Swanson suggested a film based on the [[John Colton (screenwriter)|John Colton]] and [[Clemence Randolph]] play ''Rain'' (1923), which in turn was based on the story by [[W. Somerset Maugham]] titled "Miss Thompson" (1921). Swanson had seen [[Jeanne Eagels]] perform the role on stage twice and enjoyed it.<ref>Swanson 1981 p. 297</ref>

However, because of its content, the play was on the 'unofficial blacklist' and had quietly been banned from being made into a film a year earlier.<ref name="Swanson 1981 305">Swanson 1981 p. 305</ref> To try to avoid issues with the code, Swanson and Walsh decided to leave out profanity, rename 'Reverend Davidson' to 'Mr. Davidson', and claim it was for the sake of morality to produce the picture, as [[Irving Thalberg]] had produced ''[[The Scarlet Letter (1926 film)|The Scarlet Letter]]'' (1926) at MGM.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 297–302</ref>

Swanson invited [[Will H. Hays|Will Hays]] for lunch 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 get the story rights for $60,000 instead of the original $100,000.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 302–304</ref> When news broke as to just what was intended with the play, the three authors threatened to sue.<ref name="Swanson 1981 p.294"/><ref name="Swanson 1981 305"/> Swanson later contacted Maugham requesting that he write an original story that served as a sequel. The sequel would involve following what became of Sadie in Australia. Maugham agreed to write a new story (for $100,000) but a sequel never was made.<ref>{{cite book|last=Moss|first=Marilyn|title=Raoul Walsh: The True Adventures of Hollywood's Legendary Director|url=https://archive.org/details/raoulwalshtruead00moss|url-access=limited|year=2011|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|isbn=978-0-813-13394-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/raoulwalshtruead00moss/page/n117 103]}}</ref>

Swanson and Walsh set about writing the script,<ref>Swanson 1981 p. 304</ref> and discreetly placed an ad announcing the film, thinking no one noticed, as [[Charles Lindbergh]] had just made his historic flight. However, the press picked up on it and sensationalized the story.<ref name="Swanson 1981 305"/> United Artists received a threatening two-page telegram from the [[MPAA]], signed by all its members including Fox (Walsh's studio) and Hays himself.<ref name=beauchamp>{{cite book|last=Beauchamp|first=Cari|title=Joseph P. Kennedy Presents: His Hollywood Years|year=2010|publisher=Random House LLC|isbn=978-0-307-47522-0|page=116}}</ref> In addition, the rest of the signers owned several thousand movies houses and if they refused to screen the film, it could be a financial disaster.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 305–306</ref> It was the first time Swanson had heard the name of [[Joseph P. Kennedy]], with whom she later had an affair and who financed her next few pictures, including ''[[Queen Kelly]]'' (1929).<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 308–309</ref>

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''.<ref name="Swanson 1981 307">Swanson 1981 p. 307</ref> After another threatening telegram, she decided to first appeal to MPAA and then the newspapers.<ref>Swanson 1981 p. 309</ref> She only heard back from [[Marcus Loew]], who promised to appeal on her behalf, and his owning a chain of theatres eased some of her concerns. Figuring the silence meant the matter had been dropped, Swanson began filming on ''Sadie Thompson'', which already had $250,000 invested in it.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 311-312</ref>

Before casting began, 17-year-old [[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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Welsch|first=Tricia|title=Gloria Swanson: Ready for Her Close-Up|year=2013|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-617-03749-8|page=189}}</ref> [[Lionel Barrymore]], picked first to play Davidson, was thought to be too ill at the time but ended up winning 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.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp.320-321</ref> Swanson was happy with his performance. Walsh had not acted in front of a camera in eight years and feared he would not be able both to direct and to act at the same time. However, two days into filming, his fears were quelled.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp.317-318</ref>
[[File:Gloria Swanson and director Raoul Walsh on the set of film Sadie Thompson (1928).jpg|thumb|left|Gloria Swanson and director Raoul Walsh on the set of film ''Sadie Thompson'']]
Filming took place on [[Santa Catalina Island, California|Santa Catalina Island]], near Long Beach, California. Swanson took ill shortly after and met a doctor who started her lifelong love of [[macrobiotic]] diets.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 313–317</ref> A week into shooting, [[Sam Goldwyn]] called cameraman [[George Barnes (cinematographer)|George Barnes]] away. Swanson was furious, but the loan contract 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 other cameramen, but both were unsatisfactory. [[Mary Pickford]] offered the services of [[Charles Rosher]], her favorite cameraman, but despite doing a decent job, he could not match Barnes' work.<ref>Swanson 1981 pp. 319–320</ref> Through Loew, [[MGM]] loaned Oliver Marsh, who completed the picture.<ref name="Swanson 1981 321">Swanson 1981 p. 321</ref>

The entire cameraman problem was extremely costly to the production, yet the picture continued. With the picture half-finished, it was already way over budget, and Schenck was wary, as Swanson's first picture also had been over budget and underperformed. Swanson talked with her advisers and sold her farm at Croton-on-Hudson, and she offered to sell her New York penthouse as well.<ref name="Swanson 1981 321"/>

Despite reports that dirty words can be read on the characters' lips, Swanson claims the censors went over everything meticulously.<ref name="Swanson 1981 322">Swanson 1981 p. 322</ref> However, Swanson admitted one line while 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.<ref>Swanson 1981 p. 499</ref> If the word "rain" was used in a title card, the censors asked that it be removed. They also wanted to change Davidson's name to something else, but Swanson and Walsh refused.<ref name="Swanson 1981 322"/>

It was the first time Raoul Walsh had acted in 15 years, and it was his last appearance before the camera. He directed and was to star in his next project ''[[In Old Arizona]]''. While on location for that film a jackrabbit jumped through the windshield of his car, and he lost his right eye in the resulting crash. He gave up acting and went on to an illustrious career as a director.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Raoul Walsh|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/127526-Raoul-Walsh?isMiscCredit=False|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>