William Holden was originally cast as Bill Starbuck. After Holden backed out, Burt Lancaster read about it in Hedda Hopper's column and phoned producer Hal B. Wallis. Lancaster agreed to star in Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) if he would get the role of Bill Starbuck in this film.
Loosely based on the real-life story of rainmaker Charles M. Hatfield.
Tanya Tucker recorded the song "Lizzie and the Rainman". The story line of the song is very similar to the story of the movie. A rainmaker rides into a drought-stricken West Texas town with promises of rain and falls in love with a woman named Lizzie.
Elvis Presley tested for the role of Jim Curry. He was under a contract with producer Hal B. Wallis.
Adapted from a Broadway play that originally starred Geraldine Page and Darren McGavin. "The Rainmaker" by N. Richard Nash opened at the Cort Theatre in New York on Oct. 28, 1954, and ran for 125 performances. Cameron Prud'Homme originated his movie role in the play.
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