Rain (1929 film)

Rain is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film adapted from the 1924 play Rain by John Colton and Clemence Randolph, which in turn was based on the 1921 short story "Miss Thompson" by W. Somerset Maugham. The film stars Gloria Swanson as Sadie Thompson, a flamboyant and morally ambiguous woman who arrives in Pago Pago, Samoa, aboard a ship quarantined due to a cholera outbreak.

The plot revolves around Sadie's interaction with Alfred Davidson (Lionel Barrymore), a self-righteous and rigidly moralistic missionary who becomes obsessed with reforming her. Trapped on the island during the incessant rain, tensions rise between Sadie and Davidson, leading to a dramatic confrontation and tragic consequences.

Rain was directed by Lionel Barrymore, although credits were initially given to Lewis Milestone, who was fired during production after disagreements with Swanson. The film is notable for being one of Swanson's early talkies and for its controversial themes dealing with religious hypocrisy and repressed sexuality. It was a commercial and critical success upon its release, though it has been noted that Barrymore heavily censored the original play. The film is also known for its effective use of sound to create an atmosphere of oppressive heat and constant rain. Subsequent adaptations of Maugham's story include a 1932 version titled Rain starring Joan Crawford and a 1953 musical adaptation called Miss Sadie Thompson starring Rita Hayworth.