The Rainmaker

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The Rainmaker

1956,

2h 1m,

Drama

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80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

During the Great Depression, a drought is wreaking havoc on a small, destitute Kansas town. Bill Starbuck (Burt Lancaster), a slick grifter, arrives in town, promising he can make it rain in exchange for $100. His offer is accepted by H. C. Curry (Cameron Prudhomme), a rancher whose spinster daughter, Lizzie (Katharine Hepburn), is desperate for a suitor. Lizzie finally finds confidence when Starbuck, ever the smooth talker, convinces her she's beautiful.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Dec 27, 2022

3/5

Burt Lancaster (sort of) headlines this Western romance-dramedy whose main dynamic is asking whether or not Katharine Hepburn is pretty.

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Oct 11, 2019

Hammy and stagey in spots though it is, this is an enjoyable rural comedy-drama.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Aug 22, 2008

C+

Playing yet another spinster, Katharine Hepburn is too old for the part of the tomboy in Joseph Andrew's film, which suffers from its theatrical sensibility.

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Steve Crum

Video-Reviewmaster.com

Apr 23, 2007

4/5

Drama, love story, and often comedic Lancaster-Hepburn teaming.

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Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

Jul 21, 2005

3/5

Pretty entertaining for the most part -- even if you'll be laughing at the movie as much as you are with it.

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Feb 16, 2018

Movie is older than me, but such a classic. I have watched it many times over the years.Great cast.

Anakin G

Feb 16, 2017

Knew when it came out in 56 it was famous. Never saw a bit of it until tv 2-2017. HOKEY beyond belief. Seem's like a screen adaptation of a play. Hepburn's voice is really grating on me. & Lancaster's con man is way over the top, ridiculous. He wdn't last 10 minutes in this age of social media and google to check his claims out. Much like '76 Trombones'

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Joseph Anthony

Director

Burt Lancaster

Bill Starbuck

Katharine Hepburn

Lizzie Curry

Wendell Corey

Deputy Sheriff J.S. File

Lloyd Bridges

Noah Curry

Earl Holliman

Jim Curry

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Synopsis

During the Great Depression, a drought is wreaking havoc on a small, destitute Kansas town. Bill Starbuck (Burt Lancaster), a slick grifter, arrives in town, promising he can make it rain in exchange for $100. His offer is accepted by H. C. Curry (Cameron Prudhomme), a rancher whose spinster daughter, Lizzie (Katharine Hepburn), is desperate for a suitor. Lizzie finally finds confidence when Starbuck, ever the smooth talker, convinces her she's beautiful.

Director: Joseph Anthony
Producer: Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter: N. Richard Nash
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Hal Wallis Productions
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Runtime: 2h 1m

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