"A Hatful of Rain" is a film indicative of the realism that had crept into films in the 1950s. The Production Code had gradually relaxed and films dealing with more adult topics were becoming more and more available. Now this is NOT saying the films were dirty or salacious--they just dealt with some of the realities of the pitfalls of modern life. Gangs, drugs and even sexual abuse were now possible topics in films--provided they were presented in a reasonably restrained manner. In this climate, a film like this one is possible--back in the 1940s it simply never could have been made.
The film originally was a Broadway play and it depicts the effects of morphine addiction on a Korean War vet (Don Murray). Instead of admitting his problem, Murray gets pulled into the seedy underworld--as he's heavily in debt to a scum-bag pusher (Henry Silva) and it appears as if he has no choice but steal to support this habit. In the meantime, his patient wife (Eva Marie Saint) is lonely and assumes that her husband is cheating on her--after all, he's distant and often gone at night. Living with them is Murray's brother (Anthony Franciosa)--and this creates some sexual tension and an interesting dynamic considering how lonely his sister-in-law is and that Franciosa knows his brother's secret. Add to that the tough as nails father (Lloyd Nolan) who comes to visit and you've got the ingredients for some fireworks. The family's problems extend well beyond the chemical dependency--and perhaps the drugs in some way relate to all this dysfunction. How all this is sorted out is for you to see for yourself in this excellent drama.
Don Murray is hardly a household name, but he was very good in this role because he seems a lot like an ordinary guy--something that really helps in a film like this. A big-name star would have been all wrong for this role as a poor working stiff. As for the rest of the cast, they are all excellent as well. Saint is a lot like other characters she's played--such as in "On the Waterfront" and Franciosa received an Oscar nomination for his performance as the brother living with them.
By the way, although the main focus is on Murray, I think the relationship between the scapegoated brother (Franciosa) and the irresponsible father is probably the most interesting one in the picture. There sure is a lot going on here.
Overall, an extremely well made movie that it filled with interesting family dynamics. In fact, there's so much to see here--the co-dependent wife, the enabling brother, the emotionally abusive and neglectful father...all which is fascinating and worth your time. Exceptional.
The film originally was a Broadway play and it depicts the effects of morphine addiction on a Korean War vet (Don Murray). Instead of admitting his problem, Murray gets pulled into the seedy underworld--as he's heavily in debt to a scum-bag pusher (Henry Silva) and it appears as if he has no choice but steal to support this habit. In the meantime, his patient wife (Eva Marie Saint) is lonely and assumes that her husband is cheating on her--after all, he's distant and often gone at night. Living with them is Murray's brother (Anthony Franciosa)--and this creates some sexual tension and an interesting dynamic considering how lonely his sister-in-law is and that Franciosa knows his brother's secret. Add to that the tough as nails father (Lloyd Nolan) who comes to visit and you've got the ingredients for some fireworks. The family's problems extend well beyond the chemical dependency--and perhaps the drugs in some way relate to all this dysfunction. How all this is sorted out is for you to see for yourself in this excellent drama.
Don Murray is hardly a household name, but he was very good in this role because he seems a lot like an ordinary guy--something that really helps in a film like this. A big-name star would have been all wrong for this role as a poor working stiff. As for the rest of the cast, they are all excellent as well. Saint is a lot like other characters she's played--such as in "On the Waterfront" and Franciosa received an Oscar nomination for his performance as the brother living with them.
By the way, although the main focus is on Murray, I think the relationship between the scapegoated brother (Franciosa) and the irresponsible father is probably the most interesting one in the picture. There sure is a lot going on here.
Overall, an extremely well made movie that it filled with interesting family dynamics. In fact, there's so much to see here--the co-dependent wife, the enabling brother, the emotionally abusive and neglectful father...all which is fascinating and worth your time. Exceptional.