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:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

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:

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’ 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.

Quotes:

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

We Don't Call Him "The Great One" For Nothing

It is clear that Blake Edwards chose to forego the plot points that are in the book, for more of a character study, and frankly, it works. This is not to say that if the script had included all of the plot points, that it would have been a bad film, but the script went in the direction of focusing in on the characters, not the plot.

Eustes/McQueen's character idolizes Slaughter/ Gleason's character. Any suggestion that Slaughter was ever patronizing or condescending towards Eustes is inaccurate. Eustes worships the ground Slaughter walks on, and Slaughter returns the love, knowing that his friend is more of a simple mind, but he doesn't disrespect him at all.

Jackie Gleason gives us the full "Great One" in this film, albeit in an understated mode. There's no "Bang Zoom" or "Hardee har har", but there is plenty (who am I kidding, there can never be enough) of what made The Great One so great, his vulnerability and his uncanny ability to put us inside his head, making us dream what he dreamed, letting us hurt the way he hurt, and allowing us to be a part of the oh so larger life that The Great One lived, if only for an hour or two.

This is a wonderful film. Capping on Steve McQueen for "overacting" is not fair. His character was written as over-the-top, and that's the way he played it. His wacky expressions and blatant actions in the film were beautifully offset by Gleason's calm and wordly demeanor. It's the Yin/Yang, salt/pepper, sweet/sour, and it goes together perfectly.

I'm so glad my friend sent me this movie. Otherwise, I might've never known about it. Two closing thoughts... If you want to see another perfect fat man role, played with simliar vulnerabilities, look no further than John Candy's role in "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles". John Candy took his Great One lessons. Know that. Finally, if you like this movie, you obviously enjoy buddy movies. If you're ever lucky enough to get a hold of a copy of "Looking To Get Out" 1982 starring Jon Voight, Burt Young, & Ann Margaret, don't miss it. It is the buddy movie to end all buddy movies.