Rain (1932) in Color — Starring Joan Crawford & Walter Huston

Rain (1932) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Rain, the 1932 drama starring Joan Crawford and Walter Huston, now available as a professionally colorized version. This bold pre-Code adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham’s celebrated short story delivers a searing exploration of desire, repression, and hypocrisy in an unforgettable tropical setting. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

A group of travelers is stranded on the island of Pago Pago in American Samoa during a monsoon quarantine, forced to wait out the relentless downpour in a cramped boarding house while health officials clear their ship to continue its voyage. Among the reluctant guests is Sadie Thompson, a brash, fun-loving woman with a mysterious past who fills the boardinghouse with the sound of her phonograph, her laughter, and her unapologetic vitality. She quickly draws the attention and affection of Sergeant Timothy O’Hara, a good-natured marine stationed on the island, and the two begin a tentative romance.

Also among the stranded travelers is the Reverend Alfred Davidson, a rigid and zealous missionary returning from years of work in the remote islands. Davidson becomes fixated on Sadie, recognizing in her what he considers moral corruption that must be stamped out. He launches a relentless campaign to save her soul, using every weapon at his disposal — including threats to have her deported back to San Francisco, where she hints that serious trouble awaits her. His wife supports his crusade with quiet compliance while the other guests watch with growing unease.

As the relentless rain pours down day after day, mirroring the mounting psychological pressure, Davidson tightens his grip on Sadie through hours of fervent prayer and emotional manipulation. Her resistance gradually crumbles under his sustained assault. She eventually appears utterly transformed — kneeling in prayer, her spirit apparently broken, ready to accept whatever punishment awaits her. O’Hara is devastated by the change, unable to reach the vibrant woman he had fallen for. But a shocking twist on the final night reveals a far darker truth about the reverend’s true motivations and the nature of his obsession with Sadie, and she emerges from the ordeal changed in ways no one expected. This classic movie is a powerful and unflinching study of hypocrisy, moral corruption, and the dangerous intersection of religious fervor and repressed desire.

Cast & Crew

Director: Lewis Milestone

Stars: Joan Crawford, Walter Huston, William Gargan, Guy Kibbee, Beulah Bondi

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Rain was originally shot in atmospheric black and white that captured the oppressive tropical humidity and claustrophobic tension of its island setting. This professionally colorized restoration transforms every scene with frame-by-frame precision, bringing lush tropical greens, the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean, and the warm earthy tones of the Samoan boarding house to vivid life. The colorization reveals the sensual richness of the South Pacific landscape — the dense foliage dripping with moisture, the muddy paths between ramshackle buildings, and the steamy harbor shrouded in rain. Joan Crawford’s costumes gain particular impact in color, from Sadie’s bold, revealing outfits that mark her as a free spirit to the subdued, penitent garments she wears after Davidson’s intervention. The colorized version enriches the visual contrast between Sadie’s vibrant personality and Davidson’s austere, dark-suited presence in this restored classic film. Now also available in colour.

Buy Rain in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Based on W. Somerset Maugham’s famous 1921 short story “Miss Thompson,” later retitled “Rain,” this film was one of the most daring productions of pre-Code Hollywood. The story had already been a sensation as a Broadway play in 1922 starring Jeanne Eagels, and it had been adapted into a silent film with Gloria Swanson in 1928. Director Lewis Milestone, fresh from his Academy Award-winning work on All Quiet on the Western Front, brought a stark, unflinching approach to the material that took full advantage of pre-Code freedoms. Joan Crawford lobbied hard for the role of Sadie Thompson, seeing it as an opportunity to prove herself as a serious dramatic actress beyond her established image as a glamorous leading lady. While she later expressed dissatisfaction with the performance, modern critics have reassessed her raw, committed work more favorably. Walter Huston delivers one of the most psychologically complex performances of his career as the tormented reverend, and Beulah Bondi provides quietly devastating support as his compliant wife. Through modern colorization, this provocative pre-Code drama finds new audiences who can appreciate its bold themes and powerful performances.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 94 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this based on a real story?
A: It is based on W. Somerset Maugham’s 1921 short story “Miss Thompson,” later retitled “Rain,” which was inspired by people he met during his travels in the South Pacific. Maugham encountered a real missionary and a woman of questionable reputation on a voyage through Samoa.

Q: Why was Joan Crawford unhappy with this film?
A: Crawford later expressed dissatisfaction with her performance, feeling she was miscast and that the role demanded a grittier quality she had not yet developed. However, critics and audiences have reassessed the film more favorably over the decades, recognizing the raw emotional power she brought to the role.

Q: How many film versions of this story exist?
A: There are three major film versions — the 1928 silent film titled Sadie Thompson starring Gloria Swanson, this 1932 version with Joan Crawford, and a 1953 Technicolor remake titled Miss Sadie Thompson starring Rita Hayworth.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Bride Wore Red (1937)
• Out of the Fog (1962)
• The Champ (1931)
• June Night (1940)
• City for Conquest (1940)