Somerset maugham and the 1922 play that was based on the book by john colton and clemence randolph, starring jeanne eagels. Taken from his collected short stories collection the reader realises after reading the story that maugham may be exploring the theme of independence. William somerset maugham 18741965, english playwright and author wrote of human bondage 1915. Introduction by an excerpt from wikipedia first page. Somerset maugham 18471965 rain charts the moral disintegration of a missionary attempting to convert a pacific island prostitute named sadie thompson. Somerset maughams stories show that he was basically a hippy, argues henry shukman. On the other hand, if you are interested in reading maughams works, visit the new my maugham collection concordance library mmccl, which, upon completion, will contain maughams complete works and a searchable database. A missionary, his wife, and a prostitute are among the guests stranded at a. Somerset maughams story about a south seas prostitute reformed then raped by a missionary, her worst film, which would suggest that a she was swayed by her fan mail and b she never got a chance to see reunion in france 1942 or trog 1970. Other film versions include sadie thompson 1928 starring gloria swanson, rain 1932 starring joan crawford, and dirty gertie from harlem u.
Somerset maugham 18741965 rain 1921 it was nearly bedtime and when they awoke next morning land would be in sight. The plot of the film is based on the 1922 play rain by john colton and clemence randolph, which in turn was based on the short story miss thompson later retitled rain by w. There had been a previous screen version of the play, sadie thompson 1928 starring gloria swanson, and. On the other hand, if you are interested in reading maugham s works, visit the new my maugham collection concordance library mmccl, which, upon completion, will contain maugham s complete works and a searchable database. Joan crawford and william gargan in rain 1932 joan crawford and guy kibbee in rain 1932. Rain, by somerset maugham seems to have a rather irrelevant title when first looked at. The novelist creatorgorevidal gore vidal wrote that it is very difficult for a writer of my generation, if he is honest, to pretend indifference to the work of. Part one of two of four stories from somersets quartet film. No doubt much of this popularity is due to the fact that very soon after its first publication 1921 it was adapted for the stage 1922 and the screen 1928. Due to the subject matter, the making of the film was extremely controversial.
Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 33 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rain. Somerset maugham definition of somerset maugham by the. William somerset maugham 25 january 1874 16 december 1965 was a british novelist, short story writer, and playwright. Thanks to rita hayworths inimitable incarnation as the title character in the film adaptation retitled miss sadie thompson, the short story rain may arguably be somerset maughams most wellknown tale. As answer to one of those questions what books would you take with you on a deserted island, books by maugham will be on the short list. In truth, her only mistake in making rain was flying in the face of her stock casting. The film makes explicit reference to of human bondage. The latest maugham film, a new version of the painted veil starring edward norton, naomi watts and liev. It was nearly bedtime and when they awoke next morning land would be in sight. Apr 11, 2016 maugham reassured him that the handshake still counted.
Sadie thompson 1928, a silent film starring gloria swanson. Rain 1932, lewis milestone, 94 mins lies has very kindly provided the following introduction. Maugham tried hard to be a gentleman but finally it wasnt in his nature. Somerset maugham, english novelist, playwright, and shortstory writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature.
Henry shukman rereads somerset maugham books the guardian. Vci entertainment in conjunction with the mary pickford foundation and the library of congress film archive, will be undertaking a new restoration of lewis milestones version of. Home writings essays somerset maughams short stories introduction by nicholas shakespeare when you come down to brass tacks the value of a work of art depends on the artists personality. Thomas medical school and qualified as a doctor, but abandoned medicine after the success of his first novels and plays. There are many portraits of somerset maugham, including that by graham sutherland1 in the. The dramatic significance of it all is beyond her range. The latest maugham film, a new version of the painted veil. Somerset maugham and introduced on screen by the writer himself. It is a film based on a short story by somerset maugham, about a bad girl stuck in the tropics who ends up fighting off not the natives or the mosquitoes but the reverend davidson. Edge became one of the biggestselling books of maughams career, and in 1946 was made into a successful hollywood film. Rain and other south sea stories by somerset maugham somerset maugham is one of my absolute favorites. Popular british novelist, playwright, shortstory writer and the highestpaid author in the world in the 1930s, somerset maugham. The length of his literary career alone makes him a special case.
Rain is probably the best short story written by somerset maugham in its length and characterization it is more like a novella but of course it conforms to maughams formula for a story it has a beginning, a middle and an end. Somerset maughams most famous and successful short story, inspiring three film versions, a. Review of somerset maughams short story rain a writer. Somerset maugham s story about a south seas prostitute reformed then raped by a missionary, her worst film, which would suggest that a she was swayed by her fan mail and b she never got a chance to see reunion in france 1942 or trog 1970. Rain 1932 starring joan crawford by somerset maugham free full movie. It was originally published as miss thompson in the april 1921 issue of the american literary magazine the smart set the story is set on a pacific island. S omerset m augham is a singular figure in twentiethcentury english literature. Miss crawford was called upon to remake rain at united artists. During world war i he worked as a secret agent and in 1928 settled in. Somerset maugham english writer of novels and short stories maugham, w.
With carroll baker, michael bryant, gordon jackson, stella tanner. A collection of films based on the short stories of w. Hayworth was actually the third legendary hollywood star to take on the role of the iconic bad girl of maughams story following in. Somerset maugham s rain with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. May 01, 2015 rain is probably the best short story written by somerset maugham in its length and characterization it is more like a novella but of course it conforms to maughams formula for a story it has a beginning, a middle and an end. The 1995 film se7en has a character played by morgan freeman, named lt. Three short stories with film scripts the complete short stories 3 vols. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our fandango. Rain by somerset maugham comment on the significance of. Three films by somerset maugham trio encore quartet dvd.
The secret lives of somerset maugham by selina hastings. Rain by w somerset maughan, w somerset maugham readings. The first part of the story that introduces us to the story have no relevance to. In this collection of his finest short work maugham takes the listener to the sundrenched pacific islands where the governor mercilessly abuses the inhabitants. Rain is a 1932 south seas drama film directed by lewis milestone with. Somerset maugham, or somerset maugham, as he is usually referred to, was perhaps the most respected english author of the 20th century to achieve a major presence in films. Macphail lit his pipe and, leaning over the rail, searched the heavens for the southern cross. Jul 18, 2014 part one of two of four stories from somersets quartet film. Somerset maugham is one of the bestloved short story writers of the last 100 years. Rain is probably the best short story written by somerset maugham in its length and characterization it is more like a novella but of course it conforms to maugham s formula for a story it has a beginning, a middle and an end. Vci plans new 4k restoration of rain 1932 this will be the original, uncut, precode version. And even though he never got too involved in the workings of the theatre world of his time, he remained a.
However, it was a financial and critical success for swanson. Part 2 also available on my channel as well as all parts from his other films trio and encore. Same as the other free ebooks pages, this is not a bibliography. Rain, charts the moral disintegration of a missionary attempting to convert the pacific island prostitute sadie thompson. Somerset maugham biography, movie highlights and photos. Crawford was loaned out by mgm to united artists for this film. I took it that miss thompson seduces the reverend, but it somehow didnt make sense to me. William maugham was an english playwright, writer and novelist. Somerset maugham s short story miss sadie thompson, deals with the adventures of a group of travelers who are temporarily stranded on the south pacific island of pago pago. Rain the play was a rage, and subsequently it was made into a movie several times, turned into musical, and even a ballet was contemplated, according to selina hastings the secret lives of somerset maugham, london. Maugham reassured him that the handshake still counted.
As young prostitute sadie thompson joan crawford, wanted in america for a crime that is never named, spends her time. The rain starts with a single drop that descends into an incessant deluge in this 1932 film adaptation of w. Somerset maugham synonyms, somerset maugham pronunciation, somerset maugham translation, english dictionary definition of somerset maugham. William maugham biography facts, childhood, family life. Joan crawford always considered rain, the 1932 adaptation of w. Miss sadie thompson is a 1953 american 3d film starring rita hayworth, aldo ray and jose ferrer, and was released by columbia pictures. Somerset maughams short story set on the south seas island of pagopago.
Interesting welldirected adaptation of somerset maugham story about a prostitute and a missionary out to reform her. Somerset maugham short story miss thompson later retitled rain. The blue lightning 1986 sam elliott full movie duration. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film. In maughams story, the rain is unmerciful and somehow terrible. Rain is commonly regarded as one of somerset maughams most popular short stories. Joan crawford, walter huston, matt moore, guy kibbee, william gargan, beulah bondi.
He was fairly highly successful in his time, and throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Freewheeling passion collides with hypocritical selfrighteousness on a primitive south seas island to the rhythms of hot jazz records and the steady beat of the falling rain. A missionary, his wife, and a prostitute are among the guests stranded at a tropical hotel during the rainy season. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Sadie thompson is a 1928 american silent drama film that tells the story of a fallen woman who comes to pago pago on the island of tutuila to start a new life, but encounters a zealous missionary who wants to force her back to her former life in san francisco. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Based on somerset maughams short story about a puritanical missionary determined to convert a wanton woman, rain is a fascinating film, far ahead of its time in its. What is the analysis of the static character miss sadie thompson in somerset maugham s short. Maugham william somerset rain and other stories of the south sea islands. Rain, based on story by somerset maugham somerset maugham was the best writer ever, along with marcel proust, in the view of this reader cinephile anyway, and therefore rain has all the ingredients for an outstanding, brilliant motion picture. Somerset maughams theatre and being julia somerset maugham before he turned into a full fledged novelist was an illustrious playwright. For a 1932 film, this is quite heavy with its themes and story, with prostitution and.
Released in 1948, quartet was the first of three anthology films based on w. Review of somerset maughams short story rain a writers. Somerset maugham short stories and introduced by the author on screen. I am not entirely sure as to how the 1932 film rain found its way in my watchlist, but i sure am glad it did. His first fiction was the critically praised naturalist novel of london slum life, liza of lambeth, which was published in 1897, when maugham was 23 and completing his medical training at londons st thomass hospital. It was originally published as miss thompson in the april 1921 issue of the american literary magazine the smart set. Somerset maugham we have the theme of independence, strength, courage, love, honesty, change and acceptance. In each of these films, the short stories were treated as standalone productions, in that the directors and casts were different. Trio 1950 is a collection of three vignettes adapted from short stories written by w. He did not know how wide a country, arid and precipitous, must be crossed before the traveller through life comes to an acceptance of reality.
Rain 1932 starring joan crawford by somerset maugham. One of maugham s most famous short stories, rain unfolds in a soggy tropical paradise marred by selfrighteous hypocrites trying to force their moral beliefs on a girl who basically just wants to have fun. Somerset maughams short story miss sadie thompson, deals with the adventures of a group of travelers who are temporarily stranded on the south pacific island of pago. Somerset maughams short stories nicholas shakespeare. Rain it turns out to be a mistake to have assigned the sadie thompson role to joan crawford. Popular british novelist, playwright, shortstory writer and the highestpaid author in the world in the 1930s, somerset maugham graduated in 1897 from st.
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