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IMDbPro

Rain or Shine

  • 19301930
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
424
YOUR RATING
Joe Cook in Rain or Shine (1930)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance
Woman inherits a traveling circus which brings financial difficulties.Woman inherits a traveling circus which brings financial difficulties.Woman inherits a traveling circus which brings financial difficulties.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
424
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • James Gleason(book of musical play)
    • Maurice Marks(book of musical play)
  • Stars
    • Joe Cook
    • Louise Fazenda
    • Joan Peers
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Capra
  • Writers
    • James Gleason(book of musical play)
    • Maurice Marks(book of musical play)
  • Stars
    • Joe Cook
    • Louise Fazenda
    • Joan Peers
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 10User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Joe Cook and Joan Peers in Rain or Shine (1930)
    Joe Cook in Rain or Shine (1930)
    Louise Fazenda and Tom Howard in Rain or Shine (1930)
    Dave Chasen, Joe Cook, and Tom Howard in Rain or Shine (1930)
    Joe Cook in Rain or Shine (1930)
    Joe Cook in Rain or Shine (1930)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joe Cook
    Joe Cook
    • Smiley Johnsonas Smiley Johnson
    Louise Fazenda
    Louise Fazenda
    • Frankieas Frankie
    Joan Peers
    Joan Peers
    • Mary Raineyas Mary Rainey
    William Collier Jr.
    William Collier Jr.
    • Bud Conwayas Bud Conway
    Tom Howard
    • Amos K. Shrewsberryas Amos K. Shrewsberry
    Dave Chasen
    • Daveas Dave
    • (as Dave Chason)
    Alan Roscoe
    Alan Roscoe
    • Dalton - the Ringmasteras Dalton - the Ringmaster
    Adolph Milar
    • Foltz - the Lion Tameras Foltz - the Lion Tamer
    Clarence Muse
    Clarence Muse
    • Neroas Nero
    Nella Walker
    Nella Walker
    • Mrs. Conwayas Mrs. Conway
    Edward Martindel
    Edward Martindel
    • Mr. Conwayas Mr. Conway
    • (as Edward Martindale)
    Nora Lane
    Nora Lane
    • Grace Conwayas Grace Conway
    Tyrell Davis
    Tyrell Davis
    • Lord Hugo Gwynneas Lord Hugo Gwynne
    • (as Tyrrell Davis)
    Charles Gemora
    Charles Gemora
    • Charlie the Gorillaas Charlie the Gorilla
    • (uncredited)
    Dannie Mac Grant
    Dannie Mac Grant
    • Boy at Circusas Boy at Circus
    • (uncredited)
    Ethel Loreen Greer
    • Carmencita, The Fat Ladyas Carmencita, The Fat Lady
    • (uncredited)
    James J. Jeffries
    • Extraas Extra
    • (uncredited)
    Rolfe Sedan
    Rolfe Sedan
    • Waiter at Dinner Partyas Waiter at Dinner Party
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Capra
    • Writers
      • James Gleason(book of musical play)
      • Maurice Marks(book of musical play)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The circus tent was set up in Burbank California, on the ranch of former heavyweight boxing champion James J. Jeffries, who also appeared as an extra.
    • Quotes

      Amos K. Shrewsberry: Just a minute. I want to see you. I've got a feed bill here I want to talk to you about.

      Smiley Johnson: Say, brother, you certainly were a big help to me. Now, I know what you're gonna say, you're modest and you want to make me believe you don't have it all. I want all these good folks to know what a great guy you are. You're not the mayor here, are you? You know the minute I laid eyes on you, I says to myself, now there's a man who looks just like Jimmy Walker and he should ought to be mayor of this cute little town.

      Amos K. Shrewsberry: No, I'm not the mayor, but I'd like to see you inside alone.

      Smiley Johnson: Alone? That will be impossible, I'll be with you.

    • Alternate versions
      When this film was produced, not all theaters had converted to the "sound on film" system. Also, some of the dialogue was too lengthy to include on inter-titles or referenced things unfamiliar to foreign audiences. To address these issues, Columbia and other studios filmed foreign and domestic versions simultaneously with the same cast. (They would soon switch to filming separate versions, utilizing the same sets but different casts as was the case with the Spanish version of Universal's "Dracula.") The 68 minute "silent" international version is included on the Turner "Frank Capra: the Early Collection" set. (Some spoken dialogue remains without any title cards, mainly in the climatic fire sequence.) Most of the banter is eliminated but additional tricks and stunts have been added. Although both versions were directed by Capra (usually there were separate crews), the international version has additional scenes fleshing out the Ringmaster's machinations. It also features an alternate ending to the domestic version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Charlie Gemora: Uncredited (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Happy Days Are Here Again
      (1929) (uncredited)

      Music by Milton Ager

      Played during the opening and credits and at the end

      Also played at a circus performance

    User reviews10

    Review
    Top review
    Joe Cook, the "One Man Vaudeville"
    RAIN OR SHINE is a neat little circus film directed by Frank Capra and based on a Broadway musical that ran for almost a year in 1928.

    By the time this film went into production, the vogue for musicals was over, so all the songs were cut from the film (a common occurrence in 1930). Still, there was enough plot to carry the 90-minute film.

    Joe Cook was the star. The long-forgotten, Cook was a major star on Broadway. His nickname was "the one-man vaudeville" because he could sing, dance, do comedy, and perform a series of juggling tricks. Cook made his film debut in a 1929 talkie short called AT THE BALLGAME.

    In RAIN OR SHINE he plays the fast-talking manager of a failing circus owned by a girl (Joan Peers) who inherited it from her father. Two employees are in cahoots to ensure the circus fails so they can take it over. In a weak subplot, Peers and her boyfriend (William Collier, Jr.) attend a disastrous dinner party at his snooty parents' mansion.

    Cook is front and center through most of the film as he attends to all the problems and egos under the big top. There's also a funny running gag with Cook and a local citizen (Tom Howard) and how he becomes a partner with the help of the Princess (Louise Fazenda).

    The finale is quite exciting after the bank attaches the day's receipts and the performers realize they won't get paid. Cook is terrific in a series of circus tricks as he tries to put on a big-top show all by himself. Peers and Collier are OK as the young lovers, Fazenda has little to do, Howard is funny as the local, and Dave Chasen (who founded the famous restaurant) is funny as the stooge.
    helpful•30
    1
    • drednm
    • May 11, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 15, 1930 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Pasa el circo
    • Filming locations
      • Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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