The Rainmaker (1956)

Lizzie Curry is on the verge of becoming a hopeless old maid. Her wit and intelligence and skills as a homemaker can't make up for the fact that she's just plain plain! Even the town ... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Anthony

Writers:

N. Richard Nash (screenplay), N. Richard Nash (based on his play)

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Katharine Hepburn, Wendell Corey

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burt Lancaster	...	Bill Starbuck
Katharine Hepburn	...	Lizzie Curry
Wendell Corey	...	Deputy Sheriff J.S. File
Lloyd Bridges	...	Noah Curry
Earl Holliman	...	Jim Curry
Cameron Prud'Homme	...	H.C. Curry
Wallace Ford	...	Sheriff Howard Thomas
Yvonne Fedderson	...	Snookie Maguire (as Yvonne Lime)

Storyline

Lizzie Curry is on the verge of becoming a hopeless old maid. Her wit and intelligence and skills as a homemaker can't make up for the fact that she's just plain plain! Even the town sheriff, File, for whom she harbors a secrect yen, won't take a chance --- until the town suffers a drought and into the lives of Lizzie and her brothers and father comes one Bill Starbuck ... profession: Rainmaker!

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Plot Keywords:

rainmaker | drought | rain | spinster | con artist | 

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Taglines:

It's about the magic that makes a woman beautiful when she's wanted by a man!

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Genres:

Romance | Thriller | Western | Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 December 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Regenmacher

Filming Locations:

Kanab, Utah, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Wallis Productions, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elvis Presley tested for the role of Jim Curry. Presley was under a contract with producer Hal B. Wallis.

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Goofs

After Starbuck shows up at the Currys' house, H.C. and Noah are playing a game of checkers. They start the game with H.C. playing red and make a few moves, then the phone rings. After the call, the game has reset to the beginning, and H.C. is playing black.

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Quotes

Noah Curry: We don't believe in rainmakers.
Bill Starbuck: What DO you believe in mistah? Dyin' cattle?

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Connections

Featured in The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004)

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Soundtracks

"She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Burt Lancaster

User Reviews

big-hearted film

This movie always leaves me smiling. Sure, it's not a masterpiece of cinema, and one has to be willing to go with the staginess of it (it was, after all, a play originally), but there's such an exuberance to the performances and gentleness to the story that the movie wins you over. In fact maybe there is something appropriate about the obvious artifice of the sets, since the movie is about the roles that people play and the dreams that they cherish. Certainly Lancaster's charming con man is a master of the orotund and theatrical spiel. Another haunting Alex North score that occasionally recalls some of the poignant themes that he wrote for "A Streetcar Named Desire."