''Sadie McKee'' is a 1934 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

, romantic-drama film directed by

Clarence Brown Clarence Leon Brown (May 10, 1890 – August 17, 1987) was an American film director. Early life Born in Clinton, Massachusetts, to Larkin Harry Brown, a cotton manufacturer, and Katherine Ann Brown (née Gaw), Brown moved to Tennessee when he ...

, starring

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway theatre, Broadway. Crawford was si ...

, and featuring

Gene Raymond Gene Raymond (born Raymond Guion; August 13, 1908 – May 3, 1998) was an American film, television, and stage actor of the 1930s and 1940s. In addition to acting, Raymond was also a singer, composer, screenwriter, director, producer, and decorat ...

Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, producer, and director of stage, film and television. He was a leading man in the 1930s and early 1940s, and at the height of his career was known ...

, Edward Arnold, and

Esther Ralston Esther Ralston (born Esther Louise Worth, September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an iconic American silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was '' To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and career Ralston was born Esther Loui ...

. The film is based on the 1933 short story "Pretty Sadie McKee", by Viña Delmar. Crawford plays the title character, from young working girl through poverty, a marriage into enormous wealth and finally a (seemingly) settled life on her own terms. ''Sadie McKee'' is the third of seven films Crawford and Franchot Tone made together. At the time of filming, Crawford recently had divorced Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and soon she and Tone were involved romantically. The couple married in 1935.Landazuri, Margarita
''Sadie McKee'' (article)
on TCM.com The song “ All I Do Is Dream of You” features in the film’s opening titles and certain key sequences, sung (for the most part) by Gene Raymond. It was written by

Nacio Herb Brown Ignacio Herbert "Nacio Herb" Brown (February 22, 1896 – September 28, 1964) was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s. Amongst his most enduring work is the scor ...

(music) and

Arthur Freed Arthur Freed (September 9, 1894 – April 12, 1973) was an American lyricist and Hollywood film producer. He won the Academy Award for Best Picture twice, in 1951 for '' An American in Paris'' and in 1958 for '' Gigi''. Both films were musicals. ...

(lyrics) for ''Sadie McKee.'' Since 1952, audiences have known this song best from its use in the film '' Singin' in the Rain'', where it is sung at high speed by Debbie Reynolds and a group of chorus girls after Reynolds pops out of a cake at a Hollywood party. It also was used in ''A Night at the Opera'' (1935) and ''

Crimes and Misdemeanors ''Crimes and Misdemeanors'' is a 1989 American existential comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, who stars alongside Martin Landau, Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Jerry Orbach, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston, and Joanna Gleason. ...

'' (1989).

Plot

Sadie McKee (Crawford) works part-time as a serving maid in the same household where her mother is a cook, and is admired by lawyer Michael Alderson (Tone), the son of her employer. However, when Michael talks badly of Tommy Wallace (Gene Raymond), her boyfriend, during a family dinner, Sadie openly denounces her employers as snobby and insensitive. Sadie then flees to New York City with Tommy, who was fired from his job in the Alderson factory for alleged cheating. Nearly broke, Sadie and Tommy are befriended in New York by Opal (

Jean Dixon Jean Dixon (born Jean Jacques; July 14, 1893 – February 12, 1981) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Dixon was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. She attended St. Margaret's School in Waterbury, and was also educated i ...

), a hardened club performer, who takes them to her boardinghouse. A fadeout during goodnight kisses indicates that, despite their good intentions, they share the bed. The next morning, Sadie leaves the boardinghouse to look for a job and makes plans with Tommy to meet at the marriage license bureau at noon. Soon after she leaves, neighbor Dolly Merrick (

) hears Tommy singing in the bathroom and seduces him into joining her traveling club act, which leaves town that morning. Sadie MvKee lobby card

Heartbroken and embittered by Tommy's desertion, Sadie packs her bags, but Opal implores her to stay and gets her a job as a dancer in a nightclub. Ten days later, Jack Brennan ( Edward Arnold), a jovial, rich alcoholic, helps Sadie handle an abusive customer and then demands that she sit at his table, which he is sharing with a friend – Michael Alderson. Still angry at Michael, Sadie ignores his instructions to leave his intoxicated companion alone and goes home with Brennan that evening. Soon after, Sadie marries the adoring Brennan, and while enjoying her newfound wealth, does her best to handle his constant drunkenness. One afternoon, Sadie, who has been following Tommy's crooning career, goes to see him perform with Dolly at the Apollo Theater and is thrilled by the loving looks he gives her during his number. However, when Sadie returns home that evening, she learns from Michael and the family physician that unless Brennan stops drinking, he will die within six months. Sobered by the diagnosis, Sadie sacrifices her chance to reunite with Tommy, and after rallying the servants to her side, imprisons her husband in his house and forces him to quit drinking. Sadie McKee poster

Later, Sadie goes with Michael and the now-recovered Brennan to the club where she used to dance and is startled to see Dolly there, who is performing without Tommy. After she confronts Dolly and finds out that Tommy was dumped in New Orleans, Sadie confesses to Brennan that she is in love with another man and wants a divorce. The understanding Brennan grants Sadie her request, and Michael, anxious to win her forgiveness, undertakes to find Tommy. Michael eventually locates Tommy in the city and deduces that he is suffering from tuberculosis. Aided by Michael, Tommy is admitted to a hospital. By the time Sadie is allowed to see him, Tommy's condition has worsened, and he dies after telling her that it was Michael who had helped him. Four months later, Michael celebrates his birthday with Sadie and her mother, looks into Sadie's forgiving eyes, and then makes his birthday wish.

Cast

as Sadie McKee Brennan *

as Tommy Wallace *

as Michael "Mike" Alderson * Edward Arnold as Jack Brennan *

as Dolly Merrick * Earl Oxford as Stooge *

as Opal *

Leo G. Carroll Leo Gratten Carroll (25 October 1886 – 16 October 1972) was an English actor. In a career of more than forty years, he appeared in six Hitchcock films including ''Spellbound'', '' Strangers on a Train'' and ''North by Northwest'' and in thre ...

as Finnegan Phelps, Brennan's butler * Akim Tamiroff as Riccori, cafe headwaiter *

Zelda Sears Zelda Sears (née Paldi; January 21, 1873 – February 19, 1935) was an American actress, screenwriter, novelist and businesswoman. Early life and background She was born as Zelda Paldi near Brockway Township, St. Clair County, Michigan, into ...

as Mrs. Craney, landlady *

Helen Ware Helen Ware ( Remer; October 15, 1877 – January 25, 1939) was an American stage and film actress. Early years Born to John August Remer and Elinor Maria (née Ware), Ware adopted her mother's maiden name as her professional name. She had ...

as Mrs. McKee *

Gene Austin Lemeul Eugene Lucas (June 24, 1900 – January 24, 1972), better known by his stage name Gene Austin, was an American singer and songwriter, one of the early " crooners". His recording of " My Blue Heaven" sold over 5 million copies and was for ...

as cafe entertainer on piano *

Candy Candido Jonathan Joseph “Candy” Candido (December 25, 1913 – May 19, 1999) was an American radio performer and voice actor. He was best remembered for his famous line "I'm feeling mighty low". Early and personal life Born on Christmas Day in ...

as Candy, cafe entertainer (bass) *

Mabel Colcord Mabel Colcord was an American actress who was born in San Francisco on August 13, 1873. She acted in over 30 films throughout her career, and is best known for her roles in Little Women, David Copperfield, and The Great O'Malley. Active mostly i ...

as Brennan's cook

Production notes

Actors James Dunn, Leif Erickson, Arthur Jarrett,

Donald Woods Donald James Woods (15 December 1933 – 19 August 2001) was a South African journalist and anti-apartheid activist. As editor of the ''Daily Dispatch'', he was known for befriending fellow activist Steve Biko, who was killed by police after ...

, and Robert Young were considered for the role of Tommy Wallace. Gene Raymond eventually was cast. Musicians Otto Heimel and Candy Candido, who were considered "the hottest boys this side of Hades", made their screen debuts as Coco and Candy in this film."Notes"
on TCM.com Footage from this movie is included in the 1962 film '' What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?'' to represent the 1930s acting of Joan Crawford's character Blanche Hudson.

Reception

In general, the film received mixed reviews from the critics. ''The Hollywood Reporter'' noted "Swell picture...sure-fire audience...well-tailored for the talents of Miss Crawford.... the stuff the fans cry for...direction of Clarence Brown something to rave about...a humdinger for femme fans." In 'The New York Times,''

Mordaunt Hall Mordaunt Hall (1 November 1878 – 2 July 1973) was the first regularly assigned motion picture critic for ''The New York Times'', working from October 1924 to September 1934.American Film Institute in these lists: * 2002: AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions – Nominated

References

External links

* * * * {{Clarence Brown, state=collapsed 1934 films 1934 romantic drama films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films based on short fiction Films directed by Clarence Brown Films set in New York City Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films based on works by Viña Delmar 1930s English-language films 1930s American films