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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL VINTAGE MELODRAMA..., December 3, 2001
This review is from: Sadie Mckee [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a very entertaining, depression era film. It is a rags to riches story. Sadie Mckee (Joan Crawford) is a beautiful, working class young woman whose mother works as the cook in a wealthy household in upstate New York. The master's son, Michael (Franchot Tone), a lawyer, is on very friendly terms with Sadie, until he disparages her true love, Tommy (Gene Raymond), a ne'er do well scoundrel, with a penchant for crooning, "All I Do Is Dream of You". She runs off with Tommy one night to New York City and believes that they will be married. He, instead, runs off with a blonde bombshell night club entertainer, who offers him a job crooning. Sadie, despondent and dead broke, gets a job in a clip joint, where she meets the million dollar man (Edward Arnold), a rich alcoholic who becomes totally besotted by her. On the rebound, she consents to marry him after a whirlwind courtship, over the objections of Michael who is legal counsel to the millionaire. You see, Michael now thinks that she is nothing but a cheap, little gold digger. After Sadie and the millionaire marry, she has everything her heart could desire, except for Tommy. Yet, she is genuinely fond of the alcoholic millionaire, whose drinking is legendary. No enabler she, Sadie invokes some tough love in order to save him from an early death from drinking. She also comes to a cross road in her own life and makes a decision that will forever change her destiny. To find out what it is, watch the movie, you will not be disappointed. A young Joan Crawford is exquisitely beautiful and delivers a powerful performance as sexy Sadie. Franchot Tone gives a pleasant and appealing performance. Gene Raymond, a Rudy Vallee sort of crooner, is engaging as Sadie's childhood sweetheart, whose life takes an unexpected turn and is not dealt kindly by fate. Edward Arnold, as the alcoholic millionaire, gives a poignant and compelling performance and almost steals the show right from under Joan Crawford. All in all, this is a film that will keep the viewer riveted to the screen. It will appeal to all Joan crawford fans, as well as those who have an appreciation for vintage, classic films.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Working girl marries seven-teen millions...!, September 24, 2006
This review is from: Sadie Mckee [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is one of my very favorite Joan Crawford movies because it was so entertaining and Sadie was such a likeable character. As she often did, Joan plays opposite one of her husbands (2nd husband Franchot Tone played Mike Alderson) in this classic Metro picture.
Sadie is tired of working as a maid with her mother for the stuffy Aldersons. When Mike badmouths her love-interest (Gene Raymond plays Tommy) one time too many times Sadie decides to hop a train with him.
Armed with just a few dollars (even in the 1930's that wasn't a lot of money to start your life on) Manhattan seemed like a daunting city for small-town Sadie. But with a help of a new friend Sadie and Tommy find a small room to rent and decide to get married the following day.
As is par for the course for any 1930's picture with Ms. Crawford, Sadie's lover gilts her and leaves the Big Apple! Sadie decides to stay in the City and do what she was born to do, dance. She gets a job as a show-girl and soon meets and marries fat-cat Jack Brennan (played by Edward Arnold.)
Joan was so beautiful in this picture, her huge eyes really light up the screen. Anyone that appreciates classic cinema will surely adore "Sadie McKee!"
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good show!, December 17, 2002
This review is from: Sadie Mckee [VHS] (VHS Tape)
While enjoying a late night snack, I happened to switch on my favorite cable channel, Turner Classic Movies. The introductory credits were rolling for a movie entitled "Sadie McKee". I was curious about the title so I decided to watch a few minutes of this movie before turning in. So much for a good night's sleep! This movie had me transfixed for its entirety. It is the story of a working class girl, Sadie McKee, admirably played by Joan Crawford, who is the daughter of a cook who works for the wealthy Alderson family. Franchot Tone plays Mike, son of the Aldersons. Mike has always liked Sadie and vice versa. However, when Sadie's boyfriend Tommy, played by Gene Raymond, is fired by Mike and not given a second chance, Sadie's attitude towards Mike changes. She follows Tommy to New York City where he goes in search of a job. Sadie and Tommy plan to marry until Tommy falls prey to the temptations of the Big City. Sadie and Tommy's marriage is off when Tommy fails to meet Sadie at City Hall for their marriage license. To support herself, a girlfriend finds Sadie a job in a dance hall where she meets a kind-hearted, alcoholic millionaire, Jack Brennan, brilliantly played by Edward Arnold. Coincidentally, Jack is a good friend of Mike Alderson's. We then witness Jack's quick marriage to Sadie and the events that follow. In 1934 when this movie was made, Joan Crawford was already a huge star at MGM. Yet she completely and miraculously sheds her glamorous image in her portrayal of Sadie. You believe Joan as the honest, down to earth working girl out on her own struggling to find happiness and security. And you continue to believe Joan as Sadie when Sadie becomes a rich man's wife. Sadie shows toughness and compassion as she fights to save Jack's alcohol abused life in spite of suspicions that she is just after his money. I have always had ambivalent feelings about Miss Crawford since watching the supposed "true" story of her terrifying relationship with her daughter Christina in "Mommie Dearest". Whether or not this was true, Crawford still has many fans and lifelong friends who adore and defend her. They describe her loyalty, generousity, and her earnest commitment to her craft. And indeed, that commitment is quite evident in her role as Sadie McKee. Joan realistically displays a full range of emotions through the different stages of Sadie's life. With skill and spirit, Crawford makes you care about our tenacious and tender heroine, Sadie. "Sadie McKee" is a first rate production in every department. Good show!
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