The Rainmaker (1997)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers (WGA):

John Grisham (novel)
Francis Ford Coppola (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 November 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

They were totally unqualified to try the case of a lifetime... but every underdog has his day.

Plot:

An idealistic young lawyer and his cynical partner take on a powerful law firm representing a corrupt insurance company.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Law | Insurance | Insurance Company | Courtroom

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Matt Damon	...	Rudy Baylor
Danny DeVito	...	Deck Shifflet
Claire Danes	...	Kelly Riker
Jon Voight	...	Leo F. Drummond
Mary Kay Place	...	Dot Black
Dean Stockwell	...	Judge Harvey Hale
Teresa Wright	...	Colleen 'Miss Birdie' Birdsong
Virginia Madsen	...	Jackie Lemancyzk
Mickey Rourke	...	Bruiser Stone
Andrew Shue	...	Cliff Riker
Red West	...	Buddy Black
Johnny Whitworth	...	Donny Ray Black
Wayne Emmons	...	Prince Thomas
Adrian Roberts	...	Butch
Roy Scheider	...	Wilfred Keeley

Also Known As:

John Grisham's The Rainmaker (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a strong beating and elements of domestic abuse.

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35679) | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alameda, California, USA

Company:

American Zoetrope

Trivia:

As filming went on, Matt Damon continued to gain most of the weight that he had lost purposely for his role in Courage Under Fire.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Rudy first reads the "stupid, stupid, stupid!" letter from Great Benefit, he says it's signed by Everett Lufkin, Vice President of Claims. Minutes later, when Donny Ray's nose bleeds on the letter, we see that it's signed "Russell Krokit, Senior Claims Supervisor". Additionally, this letter is shown as being dated April 25, 1995, while the blow-up Rudy shows during the trial (now signed by Lufkin) is dated July 7, 1996.

Quotes:

Miss Birdie: This is that good process turkey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Francis Ford Coppola Directs 'John Grisham's The Rainmaker' (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

Woman You Must Be Crazy

applause

The Raimaker was a _great film, adherent to the book, even to the deposition of Donny Ray Black being moved from his bedroom to the backyard and his father getting into his old Ford to drink his gin.

Of course I seldom watch a movie without reading the book first as that gives me insight into the innuendos presented,and to see how closely the movie follows the book.

For those viewers who don't like to read I _still think the movie has continuity and an easy to follow plot development.

Very good entertainment, especially if you like Matt Damon, Danny Devito, John Voight and the delight of Virginia Madsen simply being on screen.