Soldier in the Rain (1963)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Blake Edwards (writer)
William Goldman (novel)

Release Date:

27 November 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A grand pair - add a brand new curve to AN OLD ARMY GAME!

Plot:

The bond of friendship between a worldly-wise Army Master Sergeant and his naive worshiper.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Soldier | Independent Film | Based On Novel

Cast

Jackie Gleason	...	MSgt. Maxwell Slaughter
Steve McQueen	...	Sgt. Eustis Clay
Tuesday Weld	...	Bobby Jo Pepperdine
Tony Bill	...	Pfc. Jerry Meltzer
Tom Poston	...	Lt. Magee
Ed Nelson	...	MP Sgt. James Priest
Lew Gallo	...	Sgt. Fred Lenahan
Rockne Tarkington	...	Sgt. William Booth
Paul Hartman	...	Chief of Police
John Hubbard	...	Battalion Major
Chris Noel	...	Frances McCoy
Sam Flint	...	Old Man
Lewis Charles	...	Sgt. Tozzi
Adam West	...	Captain (inspecting)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U (original rating) (cut) | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved

Company:

Cedar Productions

Trivia:

Jackie Gleason released a version of the title music as a single on Capitol in early 1964, with another Henry Mancini composition, Bird Brain, as the b-side. This puts Soldier in the Rain (1963) in the same category as Thunder Road (1958) and Because They're Young (1960): movies which had a version of the theme song performed by a member of the cast and released as a single, while that version wasn't the one used in the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Toward the end when Eustice is in his dress khaki uniform he has one hash mark on his left sleeve and 2 on his right. They should be equal.

Quotes:

Clay: See ya later, Maxwell
Slaughter: Until that time, Eustice, until that time

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt (2003) (TV)

A Gleason Feast!

While this scantily plotted 1963 comedy-drama is nothing to brag about in itself, what makes the film memorable (at least for me) is Jackie Gleason's superlative performance as Army MSgt Maxwell Slaughter. It seems the role of aging, overweight and fairly complacent career NCOIC was tailor-made for Gleason. OTOH, Steve McQueen overacts in his role as a young supply Sgt. Eustis Clay, who idolizes Slaughter and attempts to get him to quit the service and go into a business venture with him. It has been said that McQueen instinctively realized that Gleason was stealing the show and over-reacted, making himself look foolish in his comedic attempts. Tuesday Weld also delivers a fine performance in another tailor- made role as the pouty teenager, Bobby Jo Pepperdine, whom Gleason dates and inevitably forms a paternal attitude towards. Great chemistry between Gleason and her in their mutual scenes. Tom Poston and pre-Batman Adam West play small supporting roles as Army superior officers. Not much drama, but it is fascinating to watch Gleason actually bodyslam an adversary in a bar brawl! Besides the Gleason-Weld scenes, the most memorable ones involve the wistful monologues Gleason gives while standing before a full-length mirror in his office, as they reveal poignant insights into his character. As I've said, the film meanders, not really going anywhere, so the truncated ending is much of a surprise. If you don't care for Gleason too much, then you probably won't like "Soldier In The Rain" all that much either. However, if you are a Gleason fan, this film will be a delectable feast!