The Rainmaker (1956)

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Approved
2h 1min
Romance, Western
13 Dec 1956 (USA)
Movie

6.9 (4,282)

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During the Depression, a con-man promises rain to a desperate drought-ridden Kansas town and marriage to a local desperate spinster.

Director:

Joseph Anthony

Writers:

N. Richard Nash, N. Richard Nash

Stars:

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

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98 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Burt Lancaster	...	Bill Starbuck
	Katharine Hepburn	...	Lizzie Curry
	Wendell Corey	...	Deputy Sheriff J.S. File
	Lloyd Bridges	...	Noah Curry
	Earl Holliman	...	Jim Curry
	Cameron Prud'Homme	...	H.C. Curry
	Wallace Ford	...	Sheriff Howard Thomas
	Yvonne Lime	...	Snookie Maguire
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Michael Bachus	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
	Dottie Bee Baker	...	Belinda (uncredited)
	Kenneth Becker	...	Phil Mackey (uncredited)
	John Benson	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Arthur Berkeley	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Rudy Bowman	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Joe Brown	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Tex Driscoll	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Herman Hack	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Signe Hack	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Tex Holden	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	George Huggins	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Stan Jones	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Jack Kenny	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Anne Kunde	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Kermit Maynard	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Walter Merrill	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Frank Mills	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
	Kansas Moehring	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Joe Ploski	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Bob Reeves	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Tom Smith	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Ray Spiker	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	James Stone	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Harry Tenbrook	...	Townsman (uncredited)
	Eleanore Vogel	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
	Dan White	...	Deputy (uncredited)

Directed by

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Joseph Anthony

Written by

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N. Richard Nash	...	(screenplay)

N. Richard Nash	...	(play)

Produced by

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Paul Nathan	...	associate producer
Hal B. Wallis	...	producer

Music by

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Alex North

Cinematography by

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Charles Lang

...

director of photography (as Charles Lang Jr.)

Editorial Department

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Warren Low	...	editorial supervisor
Richard Mueller	...	color consultant: Technicolor

Casting By

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Paul Nathan

...

(uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Hal Pereira
Walter H. Tyler	...	(as Walter Tyler)

Set Decoration by

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Sam Comer
Arthur Krams

Costume Design by

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Edith Head

Makeup Department

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Nellie Manley	...	hair style supervisor
Wally Westmore	...	makeup supervisor
Hedy Mjorud	...	hair stylist (uncredited)
Jack Stone	...	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

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Richard Blaydon	...	unit production manager (uncredited)
Frank Caffey	...	production manager (uncredited)
Curtis Mick	...	assistant production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Charles C. Coleman	...	assistant director (as C.C. Coleman Jr.)
Ralph Axness	...	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Harry Arnold	...	painter (uncredited)
Walter Broadfoot	...	props (uncredited)
Carl Coleman	...	props (uncredited)
Dorothea Holt	...	illustrator (uncredited)
Cline Jones	...	prop buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Winston H. Leverett	...	sound recordist (as Winston Leverett)
Harold Lewis	...	sound recordist
Gordon Palmer	...	mike grip (uncredited)
Bob Simpson	...	stage engineer (uncredited)
Bill Wistrom	...	sound editor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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John P. Fulton

...

special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department

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Ed Crowder	...	grip (uncredited)
Pat Drew	...	gaffer (uncredited)
Warren Hoag	...	electrician (uncredited)
Kenneth Meade	...	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Kyme Meade	...	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Gary Fifield	...	casting (uncredited)
Bill Greenwald	...	casting (uncredited)
Tish Morgan	...	casting secretary (uncredited)
Edward R. Morse	...	casting (uncredited)
Tony Regan	...	casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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John A. Anderson	...	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Grace Harris	...	wardrobe: women (uncredited)
Joan Joseff	...	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Maurice De Packh

...

orchestrator (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Bob Fender	...	publicist (uncredited)
Donna Pouget	...	stand-in: Katharine Hepburn (uncredited)
Jack Saper	...	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Marvin Weldon	...	secretary (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Hal Wallis Productions

Distributors

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Paramount Pictures (1956) (United States) (theatrical) (as A Paramount Picture)
Paramount British Pictures (1957) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1957) (Argentina) (theatrical)
Paramount Films (1957) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
Film AB Paramount (1957) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1957) (Norway) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1957) (West Germany) (theatrical)
Paramount Films of India (1957) (India) (theatrical)
Paramount Pictures (1988) (United States) (VHS) (pan and scan)
Paramount Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD)
The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
Paramount Channel (2020) (France) (tv)
Umbrella Entertainment (2021) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Westrex Recording System (sound recording system)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	Lizzie Curry is on the verge of becoming a hopeless old maid. Her wit and intelligence and skills as a homemaker can't make up for the fact that she's just plain plain. Even the town sheriff, File, for whom she harbors a secret yen, won't take a chance --- until the town suffers a drought and into the lives of Lizzie and her brothers and father comes one Bill Starbuck - profession: Rainmaker. Written by A.L.Beneteau Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	based-on-a-stage-play actor-recreates-his-stage-role drum drummer remade See All (15) »
Taglines	It's about the magic that makes a woman beautiful when she's wanted by a man! See more »
Genres	Romance Western
Parents Guide	Add content advisory for parents »
Certification	Argentina:Atp Australia:G Australia:PG Finland:S France:Tous publics India:U Netherlands:14 Norway:12 United Kingdom:A United States:Approved United States:TV-G (TV rating) West Germany:12 (f)

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Le Faiseur de pluie (France) Der Regenmacher (Germany) El farsante (Spain) Čovek koji je pravio kišu (Yugoslavia, Serbian title) Etsi arhizei i zoi (Greece) See more »
Runtime	121 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Color
Aspect Ratio	1.85 : 1 (intended ratio) See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations	Kanab, Utah, USA See more »

Did You Know?

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Trivia	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. See more »
Goofs	After Starbuck shows up at the Currys' house, H.C. and Noah are playing a game of checkers. They start the game with H.C. playing red and making a few moves, then the phone rings. After the call, the game has reset to the beginning, and H.C. is playing black. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in The Definitive Elvis: The Hollywood Years - Part I: 1956-1961 (2002). See more »
Soundtracks	She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain See more »
Quotes	Noah Curry: We don't believe in rainmakers. Bill Starbuck: What do you believe in, mistah? Dyin' cattle? See more »

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