The Rainmaker (1956 film)

For the 1997 film starring Matt Damon, see The Rainmaker (1997 film).
The Rainmaker
Film poster
Directed byJoseph Anthony
Screenplay byN. Richard Nash
Based onThe Rainmaker
(1954 play)
by N. Richard Nash
Produced byHal B. Wallis
StarringBurt Lancaster
Katharine Hepburn
Wendell Corey
Lloyd Bridges
Earl Holliman
Cameron Prud'Homme
CinematographyCharles Lang
Edited byWarren Low
Music byAlex North
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 is a 1956 American romantic Western film directed by Joseph Anthony, and adapted by N. Richard Nash from his 1954 play. It stars Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, Wendell Corey, Lloyd Bridges and Earl Holliman. The film tells the story of a middle-aged woman (Hepburn), suffering from unrequited love for the local town sheriff; however, she falls for a con man (Lancaster) who comes to town with the promise that he can make it rain. The play and film are inspired by the life of Charles Hatfield.[2]

The film was released by Paramount Pictures on December 13, 1956, and was a critical success. Hepburn received Academy Award, BAFTA Award, and Golden Globe nominations for her performance, Alex North's score also received an Oscar nomination. Earl Holliman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role.

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 it rains.

Cast

Background

The original Broadway production of The Rainmaker opened at the Cort Theatre on October 28, 1954, running for 125 performances. It was also directed by Joseph Anthony, and starred Darren McGavin as Starbuck, Geraldine Page as Lizzie, and Albert Salmi as Jim.[4] The only actor to appear in both the stage and film version was Cameron Prud'Homme (as Lizzie's father H.C.).

Casting

Elvis Presley screen-tested for the role of Jim Curry.[5] Had he been cast, The Rainmaker would've been his film debut.[5] Reportedly, his casting was vetoed by his manager Colonel Tom Parker.[6]

William Holden was originally cast as Bill Starbuck, but backed out before filming started.[5] Burt Lancaster lobbied producer Hal B. Wallis for the role, agreeing to star in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral if he was cast.[5] Katharine Hepburn further vouched for Lancaster, after being impressed by his performance in The Rose Tattoo.[5]

Filming

Shooting took place at the Paramount studio backlot in Los Angeles, with some exterior location filming in Kanab, Utah.[5]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film an approval rating of 80% based on 5 reviews.[7]

Awards and nominations

Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Academy Awards Best Actress Katharine Hepburn Nominated [8]
Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture Alex North Nominated
British Academy Film Awards Best Foreign Actress Katharine Hepburn Nominated [9]
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture – Drama Nominated [10]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Burt Lancaster Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Katharine Hepburn Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Earl Holliman Won
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Written American Drama N. Richard Nash Nominated [11]

Remakes

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.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Top Grosses of 1957", Variety, 8 January 1958: 30
  2. ^ ""The Rainmaker" House and Weather Station (1916)". Valley Center History Museum. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  3. ^ http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm BLS Inflation Calculator
  4. ^ "The Rainmaker – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "The Rainmaker (1956)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "Elvis Presley's Paramount Screen Test". www.elvis-history-blog.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  7. ^ "The Rainmaker | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  8. ^ "The 29th Academy Awards (1957) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  9. ^ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1958". British Academy Film Awards. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "The Rainmaker". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "Awards Winners". Writers Guild of America Awards. Retrieved June 6, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ Ghosh, Avijit (2013). 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed. Tranquebar Press. ISBN 978-9383260317.
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