“Sadie Thompson”, 1928, written by W. Somerset Maugham and starring Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore- another aspect of Pacific history

was once a thriving Red Light district in an area of Honolulu called

Iwilei, near the Honolulu harbor.) The movie was later re-made again in

various forms and became the basis for various Hawaiiwood movie sub-themes of island nightclub women with immoral occupations or "pasts".

The original Sadie Thompson story in 1928, based upon a stage play, was a silent picture but apparently lip readers could make out the uncensored dialog. It was also produced in 1932 as "Rain" with Joan Crawford and

again as "Miss Sadie Thompson" in 1953 with Rita Hayworth.

"Sadie Thompson", 1928, written by W. Somerset Maugham and starring Gloria Swanson and Lionel Barrymore. (By the way, Maugham, who wrote some classic Pacific themed novels, actually worked for British Intelligence in WW-I). The most interesting aspect about the Sadie Thompson story is that it represents another aspect of Pacific history - prostitution. (There was once a thriving Red Light district in an area of Honolulu called Iwilei, near the Honolulu harbor.) The movie was later re-made again in various forms and became the basis for various Hawaiiwood movie sub-themes of island nightclub women with immoral occupations or "pasts". The original Sadie Thompson story in 1928, based upon a stage play, was a silent picture but apparently lip readers could make out the uncensored dialog. It was also produced in 1932 as "Rain" with Joan Crawford and again as "Miss Sadie Thompson" in 1953 with Rita Hayworth.