Sadie Thompson
Sadie Thompson, fictional character, the protagonist of the short story βRainβ (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.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
Citation Information
Article Title:
Sadie Thompson
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
15 February 2011
Access Date:
November 14, 2026