Editing Sadie Thompson (film) (section)

==Release and reception==
[[Image:Sadiethompsonlobbycard.jpg|right|thumb|Sadie Thompson Lobby Card 1928]]
Upon its release, critics praised the movie and Swanson's performance.<ref>Welsch 2013 p. 213</ref> Contemporary film critics have cited Swanson's performance as one of her best.<ref>{{cite book|last=Balio|first=Tino|title=United Artists, Volume 1, 1919–1950: The Company Built by the Stars|year=2009|publisher=Univ of Wisconsin Press|isbn=978-0-299-23003-6|page=283}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Klepper|first=Robert K.|title=Silent Films, 1877-1996: A Critical Guide to 646 Movies|year=1999|publisher=McFarland|isbn=0-786-40595-3|page=484}}</ref>

The film was a financial and critical success, and it was the only silent, independent film of Swanson's to do well at the box office. In fact, it was one of her financially successful films, along with the sound films ''[[The Trespasser (1929 film)|The Trespasser]]'' and ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Blvd]]''.<ref>Swanson 1981 p.407</ref> It made $1 million in the United States and $7 million internationally.<ref name=shearer>{{cite book|last=Shearer|first=Stephen Michael|title=Gloria Swanson: The Ultimate Star|year=2013|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-1-250-00155-9 |page=186 |author2=Basinger, Jeanine }}</ref> However, at Kennedy's advice, Swanson had sold her distribution rights for the film to Schenck because Kennedy felt it would be a commercial failure. He also did not care for the image Swanson portrayed in the film. By this point, ''[[Queen Kelly]]'' had been a disaster, and Swanson regretted it.<ref name="Swanson 1981 374">Swanson 1981 p. 374</ref>

The film made the top 10 best pictures of the year list as well.<ref name="Swanson 1981 374"/>