Miss Sadie Thompson (1953)

José Ferrer: Alfred Davidson

Photos 

Quotes 

• Dr. MacPhail : This island looks volcanic.

  Mr. Davidson : It is - in more ways than one. All these isolated islands where our servicemen are stationed are volcanic. It takes constant vigilance to keep them under control.

  Dr. MacPhail : You mean to keep friendly relations with natives strictly - friendly.

  Mr. Davidson : To put it bluntly, yes.

• Mr. Davidson : No, Doctor, moral standards can never be high enough. Especially here, where all of nature seems to conspire against us. Everything grows with a sort of savage violence; today you will see strange flowers where yesterday there were only roots.

• Mr. Davidson : Men of science like Freud and Adler and Jung are destroying moral values by denying individual responsibility.

• Mr. Davidson : Governor, I'm not a politician. I wasn't appointed to my job, I created it.

  Governor : [Dryly sarcastic]  I envy you.

• Mr. Davidson : You must accept your punishment for the life you've led.

• Mr. Davidson : Physical ailments are simple to fight... compared to immorality and evil.

• Mr. Davidson : Miss Thompson, may I ask where you're going?

  Sadie : The boys are throwing a brawl at the Chinaman's. Say, maybe you'd people like to come along? You might have a few laughs.

  Mr. Davidson : Wouldn't it be wiser if you stayed here?

  Sadie : You mean because of the rain?

  Mr. Davidson : I wasn't referring to to the rain.

  Sadie : You're not reaching me?

  Mr. Davidson : You'll be the only white woman there.

  Sadie : Say, that's real decent of you. But, I wouldn't worry. A girl gets just what she asks for. And all I'm asking for is company on a rainy night.

• Mr. Davidson : You're going to New Caledonia to carry on your trade.

  Sadie : I don't know what you're talking about.

  Mr. Davidson : I'm talking about why you had to leave Honolulu. You're a prostitute!

  Sadie : What! Who do you think you are calling me names? You're a dirty, rotten liar!

  Mr. Davidson : I want to give you a chance to redeem yourself.

  Sadie : Where do you get off with that kind of talk?

  Mr. Davidson : A chance to find salvation before it's too late.

  Sadie : You're no priest or missionary! You're trying to act like one but the collar don't fit!

• Governor : I suppose you came to see me about that disturbance last night. Major Kenner has just assured me that the Chinaman's place will be declared off limits.

  Mr. Davidson : At my insistence.

• Mr. Davidson : There is no hiding from justice.

  Sadie : But, I didn't do anything to go to jail for!

  Mr. Davidson : You've led an immoral life. You must pay for it! Only then will God forgive you.

  Sadie : What kind of God are you talking about? That's not the kind of God I learned about in Sunday school. The way you figure him out, he's nothing but a cop!

• Mr. Davidson : Miss Thompson, you're caught in a life of your own making. You cannot escape yourself. No one can. You will only find peace when you accept your punishment.