A Hatful of Rain (1957)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers (WGA):

Michael V. Gazzo (play)
Michael V. Gazzo (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 September 1957 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Korean War veteran's morphine addiction wreaks havoc upon his family. |

Plot Keywords:

Korean War Veteran | Morphine | Veteran | Drug Dealer | Bouncer

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Don Murray	...	Johnny Pope
Eva Marie Saint	...	Celia Pope
Anthony Franciosa	...	Polo Pope
Lloyd Nolan	...	John Pope, Sr
Henry Silva	...	Mother
Gerald S. O'Loughlin	...	Chuch
William Hickey	...	Apples
Paul Kruger	...	Bartender
Ralph Montgomery	...	Spectator
Michael Vale	...	Cab Driver
Art Fleming	...	Mounted Cop

Runtime:

USA:109 min | 104 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) (magnetic prints)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Adapted from a Broadway play by Michael V. Gazzo. The original stage production opened on Nov. 9, 1955 at the Lyceum Theatre in New York and ran for 389 performances. Ben Gazzara and Shelley Winters played the two leads in the original stage play.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

Soundtrack:

Chattanooga Choo Choo

A film ahead of it's time.

Back in the 1950's, it was not normal to see a movie that addressed a social problem such as Heroin addiction. The film also slightly implicates the US Army as the source of Johnny's addiction when he was in the Army Hospital following spending months in a cave in Korea. The film pulls no punches as it displays the ruthless pushers who will "put you in the hospital with Willie DeCarlo" if you don't pay what you owe for the Heroin. It also shows how addicts will do anything to get their next "fix". One really feels for Johnny's brother Polo who works as a bouncer to get money for Johnny's habit and at the same time trying to hide the fact that his brother is an addict from Johnny's wife and thier father. In addition, as one who grew up in a NYC housing project in the 1950's and 60's i have to say the on location filming in the projects brings back lots of memories of what my project looked like. I am happy to say i have a good VHS version of the film i took off the OLD AMC years ago (before they ruined AMC with commercials.)