- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,750
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
Genres: Drama
Starring: Joan Crawford, Walter Huston, Fred Howard
Director: Lewis Milestone
Plot Synopsis:
VCI is pleased to present RAIN, celebrating it's 90 Anniversary in a stunning new 4K restoration, produced from the original, uncut 94-minute version. It is a most important film in the history of the cinema, and one of the greatest films the 'Thirties' produced. The consummate dramatic and artistic achievement of both Miss Crawford and Walter Huston will give the picture life for many decades to come. W. Somerset Maugham's powerful story of Sadie Thompson has perhaps the most celebrated version, vividly capturing the lives of several very different human beings, thrown together on Pago Pago during a fierce monsoon. Brilliant performances are given by Crawford, as the cynical prostitute, and Huston, as the minister who tries to reform her. A 'tour de force' of camera work, style and direction of a film that caused controversy when first released, 'Rain' is one of the true classic dramas of film history.
Bonus features include: Alternate Opening Title and Credits Sequence from the 18-minute shorter, 1938 Atlantic Reissue, Period appropriate Betty Boop Cartoon and Newsreel, Poster & Photo Gallery, Original Theatrical Trailer, Liner notes reprinted from Views & Reviews Magazine by Jon Tuska, author and film historian., Commentary track by Richard Barrios Writer, Historian, and Commentator , Commentary track by Mick LaSalle Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and noted film historian.
I wonder what elements were available to scan in 4K. Came from LOC
The last decade has seen them really up their game - their final work on Scrooge -- White Zombie - all the great Rank titles --check out their 'The Way Ahead' 'Above The Waves' their stunning Gang Busters so I know this release will be great and VCI took the forum posters advice on who to use for the commentary tracks!I'm dubious about VCI releases (too used to questionable DVDs from them), but if the reviews are good for this, I'm game.
Ok so I don’t understand this term “good time gal”. I think it’s a man’s romanticized interpretation of a prostitute. I love Joan’s interpretation because it’s from a woman’s point of view and she always seems the most modern of all the Old Hollywood stars. A woman today can easily understand Joan’s Sadie, 90 years later! On one side men want her body; on the flip side another man wants her soul (but really it’s her body he wants). She’s trapped on a rainy humid arm pit of an island and has to deal with this crap with only herself to fight. Nothing about this says “good time”. CRAWFORD ignores the male myth and shows us how a woman really feels. I love all the strong women of Old Hollywood. But what sets CRAWFORD apart and why so many still love or hate or fear her…when crap comes her way, she fights as hard as a Davis or Stanwyck but the power she fights back with is the same MALE POWER used against her! She is dangerous. I love that she had the guts to play many roles this way. Cannot wait for the restored RAIN!The New Yorker Theater showed a stunning 35mm print of Rain. Beautifully shot, edited and directed.
I had already seen Walsh's Sadie Thompson with its, sadly, last reel missing and found Swanson to be a delightful, vivacious trollop. Her repentance was believable and her terrifying fall from grace was the stronger for it. Great performance.
Crawford, on the other hand, was a tough-as-nails prostitute that was the farthest from a good-time gal as Sadie could be. How any sailor could think he could have fun (apart from transactional sex) with her, is beyond me. At the end, she's just like she was at the beginning. A tough-as-nails prostitute. Was this a case of her being misdirected? Who knows? I just feel that it's not a successful interpretation.
Even Rita Hayworth got it right.
YES! And they took posters advice on the forum in picking who to do the commentary!Hallelujah! Finally. Crawford's best film and truly shocking.
Crawford agreed with you. From the book Conversations With Joan Crawford by Roy Newquist:The New Yorker Theater showed a stunning 35mm print of Rain. Beautifully shot, edited and directed.
I had already seen Walsh's Sadie Thompson with its, sadly, last reel missing and found Swanson to be a delightful, vivacious trollop. Her repentance was believable and her terrifying fall from grace was the stronger for it. Great performance.
Crawford, on the other hand, was a tough-as-nails prostitute that was the farthest from a good-time gal as Sadie could be. How any sailor could think he could have fun (apart from transactional sex) with her, is beyond me. At the end, she's just like she was at the beginning. A tough-as-nails prostitute. Was this a case of her being misdirected? Who knows? I just feel that it's not a successful interpretation.
Even Rita Hayworth got it right.
I also saw that print, which I remember being very beautiful. But I don't remember the film all that well. I'm willing to take a chance on it again, if the master isn't DNR-ed to death, which VCI used to do a lot, though that may have changed, as I've heard good things about A WALK IN THE SUN. BTW, Molly Haskell really liked RAIN a lot, and completely disagrees with Ms. Crawford's opinion of her performance. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L9pHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CIwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6299,4929537The New Yorker Theater showed a stunning 35mm print of Rain. Beautifully shot, edited and directed.
I had already seen Walsh's Sadie Thompson with its, sadly, last reel missing and found Swanson to be a delightful, vivacious trollop. Her repentance was believable and her terrifying fall from grace was the stronger for it. Great performance.
Crawford, on the other hand, was a tough-as-nails prostitute that was the farthest from a good-time gal as Sadie could be. How any sailor could think he could have fun (apart from transactional sex) with her, is beyond me. At the end, she's just like she was at the beginning. A tough-as-nails prostitute. Was this a case of her being misdirected? Who knows? I just feel that it's not a successful interpretation.
Even Rita Hayworth got it right.
Good Luck with that!!I will hold out. Until it comes out in 4K.
All the new DVDs I buy now are in 4K.
I have two complete 4 K setups.
All my DVDs & Blu-Rays look great.
The 4 K's are even better.