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Sadie Thompson
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Sadie Thompson

fictional character
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Article History

Sadie Thompson, fictional character, the protagonist of the short story “Rain” (1921) by W. Somerset Maugham.

Thompson is a lighthearted American prostitute who plies her trade in the South Seas and causes the downfall of Reverend Mr. Davidson, a fanatical missionary.

The short story was adapted into the play Rain (1922) and was filmed as Sadie Thompson (1928), with Gloria Swanson; Rain (1932), starring Joan Crawford; and Miss Sadie Thompson (1953), with Rita Hayworth.

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This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.