this film be essentially a remake of the 1928 silent sadie thompson only with sound . joan crawford and walter huston recreate the role of gloria swanson and lionel barrymore . the script be exactly the same story except that it be murkier because of all the rainy weather . sadie thompson ( crawford ) be the woman of ill reputation who need to be save . this film center around this story . she have escape from san francisco to an island where she be head to australia to escape a prison sentence for what she have do . the rest center around her decision on what she decide to do . the photography in this be not quite as good a the original although the film be almost exactly the same length . ms. crawford act elevates this above be a standard remake and into a good film than some of the early talk film . this one help launch her successful career . the story tell by the film be solid enough that after only 4 year it be remake . one of the short time between remake in american film history .