I've said the same thing about so many of her movies, but Sadie McKee would have been better if it starred another actress besides Joan Crawford. She plays a poor young woman, the daughter of a cook, and through her quest to achieve high society and wealth, she learns about the real struggles of life. However, through her entire performance, all I felt was entitlement and a conceit that she knew where the camera was and thought she was doing a good job acting. If you don't get that vibe from Joan Crawford's performances, you might like this movie. I would have preferred Barbara Stanwyck.
The supporting cast of Sadie McKee is very good, helping to balance out their leading lady. Gene Raymond is the poor scoundrel who ruins Joan's reputation but keeps her heart, and he's very believable in all his scenes. Franchot Tone knew Joan when she worked in his house, and while he was fond of her in her youth, when she hardens, he tries to stop her from hurting anyone else along the way. They're very antagonistic towards each other in this film; no one would ever guess they'd get married in real life two years later! Edward Arnold is fantastic, as Franchot's friend who unknowingly walks into Joan's trap. Edward is extremely rich and extremely fond of alcohol, and while he picks up a chorus girl for a good time, he winds up getting much more than he bargained for. If he were unlikable, the story wouldn't work. Thankfully, he's likable and pitiable, despite his drunken foolishness, and everyone else can work off of him and create a good movie.
The supporting cast of Sadie McKee is very good, helping to balance out their leading lady. Gene Raymond is the poor scoundrel who ruins Joan's reputation but keeps her heart, and he's very believable in all his scenes. Franchot Tone knew Joan when she worked in his house, and while he was fond of her in her youth, when she hardens, he tries to stop her from hurting anyone else along the way. They're very antagonistic towards each other in this film; no one would ever guess they'd get married in real life two years later! Edward Arnold is fantastic, as Franchot's friend who unknowingly walks into Joan's trap. Edward is extremely rich and extremely fond of alcohol, and while he picks up a chorus girl for a good time, he winds up getting much more than he bargained for. If he were unlikable, the story wouldn't work. Thankfully, he's likable and pitiable, despite his drunken foolishness, and everyone else can work off of him and create a good movie.