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.
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
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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. 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
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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. 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. Had he been cast, The Rainmaker would've been his film debut.
William Holden was originally cast as Bill Starbuck, but backed out before filming started.
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
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! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
!
|-
| rowspan="2"| Academy Awards
| Best Actress
| Katharine Hepburn
|
| align="center" rowspan="2"|
|-
| Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture
| Alex North
|
|-
| British Academy Film Awards
| Best Foreign Actress
| Katharine Hepburn
|
| align="center"|
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| rowspan="4"| Golden Globe Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Motion Picture – Drama
|
| align="center" rowspan="4"|
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| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
| Burt Lancaster
|
|-
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
| Katharine Hepburn
|
|-
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
| Earl Holliman
|
|-
| Writers Guild of America Awards
| Best Written American Drama
| N. Richard Nash
|
| align="center"|
|}
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.
See also
- List of American films of 1956