The Rainmaker (1956 film)

The Rainmaker is a 1956 American western romance film directed by Joseph Anthony and adapted by N. Richard Nash from his 1954 play The Rainmaker. The film tells the story of a middle-aged woman, suffering from unrequited love for the local town sheriff; however, she falls for a con man who comes to town with the promise that he can make it rain. It stars Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, Wendell Corey, Lloyd Bridges and Earl Holliman. Holliman won a Golden Globe Award for his performance.

The Rainmaker
Film poster
Directed byJoseph Anthony
Screenplay byN. Richard Nash
Based onThe Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash
Produced byHal B. Wallis
StarringBurt Lancaster
Katharine Hepburn
Wendell Corey
CinematographyCharles Lang
Edited byWarren Low
Music byAlex North
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • December 13, 1956 (1956-12-13)
Running time
121 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.1 million (US)[1]

The Rainmaker has been remade twice. The first time as a television film of the same name in 1982 directed by John Frankenheimer. The second time in Hindi as Thodasa Roomani Ho Jayen in 1990.[2]

Plot

During the Depression era in the Midwest, con man Bill Starbuck acts as a rainmaker, but is chased out of town after town. One day, he arrives in a drought-ridden rural town in Kansas and shows up at the door of spinsterish Lizzie Curry and the rest of the Curry clan. Lizzie keeps house for her father, H.C., and two brothers on the family cattle ranch. As their farm languishes under the devastating drought, Lizzie's family worries about her marriage prospects more than about their dying cattle. Prior to Starbuck's arrival, Lizzie was expecting Sheriff File, for whom she harbors a secret yen, though he declined the family's invitation to dinner. Starbuck promises to bring rain in exchange for money.[3] Against Lizzie's protests, H.C. goes for the deal out of desperation for rain even though he thinks Starbuck is a con. Starbuck is exposed, but the Curry clan stands up for him, leading to both Starbuck and File finally declaring for Lizzie. In the end, Lizzie gets her man, and of course, it rains.

Cast

Awards

Academy Awards
Nominations[4]

Golden Globe Awards

Won:

Nominations

  • Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Drama
  • Golden Globe for Best Actor: Burt Lancaster
  • Golden Globe for Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn

See also

References
  1. "Top Grosses of 1957", Variety, 8 January 1958: 30
  2. Ghosh, Avijit (2013). 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed. Tranquebar Press. ISBN 978-9383260317.
  3. http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm BLS Inflation Calculator
  4. "The 29th Academy Awards (1956) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
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