Soldier in the Rain (1963)

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:

Continuity: At the fair when Bobby Joe throws the stuffed tiger at Sgt. Slaughter it is moving downwards with sound effects of hitting the ground. In the next split second shot Sgt. Slaughter has it tucked neatly under his left arm.

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 Charmer!

The unlikely pairing of Steve McQueen and Jackie Gleason generates surprising on-screen chemistry in this sweet little film depicting the equally unlikely friendship of enlisted man Eustis Clay and his mentor/idol Sgt. Maxwell Slaughter.

Country boy Eustis is counting the days until his hitch is up, while the erudite, knows-all-the-angles Maxwell has made a home of what Eustis calls "this stupid old army." Theirs is a rather symbiotic relationship; Maxwell guides and educates Eustis, as well as helping him out of his little scrapes, while Eustis, with his devil-may-care enthusiasm, coaxes Maxwell from his comfortable cocoon and into various adventures.

McQueen gives an uncharacteristically animated performance, while Gleason displays ample justification for his nickname, The Great One. Indeed, it can be imagined that Master Sargeant Slaughter is exactly the person Gleason would have become had he chosen a career in the military rather than show-business. There is not so much a story here as a series of episodes in the day-to-day lives of the two friends and the colorful characters with whom they interact. There is able support from Tom Poston as a clueless lieutenant ("What's the poop, Sargeant?"), Tony Bill as Eustis' own sort-of protégé and Tuesday Weld, demonstrating the versatility for which she was already coming to be known. A pre-Batman Adam West also shows up, and has one of the film's best lines. Escorting a Batallion Major to Poston's office, he says "This company's in charge of Lt. Magee." "You mean, Lt. Magee's in charge of this company," corrects the officer, to which West replies with an uncertain shrug, "Well....."

SOLDIER IN THE RAIN moves deftly from farce to drama, and at 88 minutes, packs a lot into a small package. One can't help but wonder what the set of this film was like. Both Gleason and McQueen were uncompromising, take-charge kind of guys and, with the possible exceptions of billiards and broads (excuse the terminology), probably found little common ground over which to relate. Maybe that was enough. Whatever the case, they play off of each other beautifully.

Ralph Nelson was a more than capable director who had associated with Gleason the previous year on "Requiem For a Heavyweight." He wisely lets the charisma of his two lead players dominate, and the result is an unusual but thoroughly charming picture. Not available on video except for a years-old VHS release, it may be hard to find, but catch it if you can. "Until that time, Eustis, until that time."

Update: It's now available from TCM (online only) as part of their "From the Vault" collection, at a very affordable price.