User reviews

I find this film quite fascinating because of its setting and style.

The credits on the road and the black and white photography are so striking and evocative of its time that if one in the year 2005 wants to get a real sense of the quiet 'sixties rural/suburban time, this film will do it for you. I find it a companion piece to BUS RILEY'S BACK IN TOWN and even THE STRIPPER all made around the same time, as if a set of films of a similar tone and look all made in the same US town. Where I lived in Australia in 1965 was exactly like all these films but this this one gives me the childhood recollection of hearing the sad adult conversations of neighbors. These 3 films deserve better awareness of lonely and changing 60s life before Vietnam horror and psychedelia took over and perhaps offer the best sense of time travel one could wish for. If you also want a bitter chaser with a wicked laugh, add KISS ME STUPID to the mix.

I just saw this hauntingly beautiful film last night on AMC. It's subtle beauty requires viewers' attention and participation. Do not watch it if you're in the mood for an easy escape film. To appreciate it you must be sensitive to facial expression and non-verbal signal. It also helps to understand a little about the culture of the South.

It works on two levels, at least:

First, it tells the story of a wife's dawning understanding of the hopelessness of her marriage and her resolve to have a good life anyway.

Second, it shows the tragedy of severe child abuse in great depth and reveals the community's culpability. I've never seen a more powerful visual metaphor than Henry's escape attempt, where camera facing him head-on, he runs furiously, climbing and clinging and failing to make it onto the back of a speeding truck.

The film juxtaposes Henry's relationship to his adopted mother to the relationship of his wife to their daughter. This loving, beautiful relationship is the pivot around which the story revolves. Henry, dull, unintelligent, abused Henry is lost, but in one area he had supreme luck (or supreme judgment). His child has what he never had, and will grow up beautifully. He could not have chosen a better mother for his daughter.

The screenplay, acting and direction are all superb.

This is the kind of film which seems to struggle to find an audience outside of its immediate setting – in its case, the American Deep South. It's basically a familial drama where husband and wife are driven apart by the former's troubled persona – especially due to his own inclination to violence and the enigmatic relationship with his eminent but dying guardian. Director Mulligan had created an all-time classic with TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962): this updates the atmosphere (including a failed attempt to replicate the Gothic touch associated with Robert Duvall's Boo Radley character in that film) but still throws in a little girl at the core of the story. Steven McQueen goes through the whole 'Rebel Without A Cause' act to little lasting effect – the performance is even more hurt by the fact that, playing a wannabe rockabilly singer, he's forced to mimic to a number of tunes (including the title number). Similarly, co-stars Lee Remick and Don Murray have typical roles, and John Wayne regular Paul Fix also has a nice bit as a benign Judge. The film notches up some tolerable intensity with scenes where McQueen is beaten up, feverishly tries to dig up the old lady (for whatever purpose) and finally escapes custody – if only for a short while; otherwise, the greatest points of interest here are Ernest Laszlo's moody cinematography and Elmer Bernstein's eclectic score.

The team that brought you To Kill A Mockingbird has also given us Baby The Rain Must Fall another southern based drama though the protagonist is hardly as admirable as Atticus Finch. Steve McQueen and Lee Remick star in this film as a married couple trying to make a new start in life after McQueen is released on parole from prison.

McQueen is a musician/singer of sorts and while I doubt he could have a career in big time country music, he doesn't have the talent to make the really big time. You won't see McQueen at the Grand Ole Opry, but he could make a respectable living doing the honky-tonks if it weren't for an ungovernable temper. In the few instances we see it displayed we never do see exactly what sets him off, the film might have been better if we had, we might understand McQueen more.

But the temper is a given and he's on parole. A wife and a daughter who the people of his Texas home town have never met and don't know the existence of, have come to join him. Lee Remick is the patient and loving wife, but she's coming slowly to the realization that this just isn't going to work.

Don Murray plays the local sheriff and a childhood friend who does what he can for McQueen. It's interesting to speculate whether Remick and Murray will get together afterward. Paul Fix has the same kind of part he did in To Kill A Mockingbird as a kindly judge.

If James Dean had lived this would have been a perfect role for him. But McQueen who had a background of foster care, who was a product of the social welfare system raising him, had a lot to draw on for his performance.

Steve McQueen did his own vocals though country singer Glenn Yarborough had a hit from the title song. Better that way then to have a real singer doing it lest the viewer think this guy has the talent to make it big.

Although this is not as good as To Kill A Mockingbird, writer Horton Foote and director Robert Mulligan did a bang up job in Baby The Rain Must Fall.

This is a little slow by today's standards, and not really much of story. It's also a sad, haunting kind of movie. What I liked was the cast, which featured two of my all-time favorite actors: Steve McQueen and Lee Remick.

I got rid of the tape and frankly, I'm sorry I did because I'd to give this film another chance. Remick plays an old-fashioned sweet woman that is rare to see on screen these days. It was not a glamorous role, but I don't believe she's ever looked prettier. Her unspoiled daughter in this film was a nice kid, too.

If this film just wasn't so darn depressing at times, I would have kept it. Maybe three viewings was enough. Most people, especially younger people of today, wouldn't make it all the way through one showing since it's slow and the story, frankly, isn't that memorable. Perhaps that it's a sad story makes me want to forget. Whatever!

Yet, it does have McQueen and Remick, and those two keep drawing me back.

Beautiful performances from Steve McQueen and especially Lee Remick highlight this rather sad rambling film of the type Hollywood doesn't make anymore. A small personal drama that explores the lives of regular people just struggling to make a place for themselves in the world. Nothing blows up, it's all about emotions here. Horton Foote's screenplay, based on his play, shows his customary understanding of how people react and interact with each other while Ernest Laszlo stark black and white cinematography evokes the dusty small town Texas setting in a way color never could. Something that you'd find either on the indie circuit or maybe on cable today certainly not in major markets as this was and hardly with stars of this magnitude.

Nowhere near as good as expected with such, normally, good actors in the lead male and female roles. Steve was not good in this and he was lucky that this film did not end his acting career. He may have been doing some kind of "method acting" and if he was it went badly wrong. The only natural looking acting in this film was performed by the young girl character who made everyone else look very wooden and stilted, she was excellent. It goes to prove that even the best of actors can turn in a very poor performance. Only worth watching for those who want to see Steve at his very worse, a bit of a let down.

I have been using imdb for over 20 years, but never found the need to sign in or make a comment until now. I was first aware of this film when I saw a picture of Steve McQueen playing a three pickup Gibson guitar, and I thought "wow, I must watch this".... After many years i t finally turned up on TV and what a disappointment it is. Steve McQueen overacts like Shatner in Star Trek. The story is slow and boring. There is a reason you dont see films like this, as most people will change the channel when the ad break comes on. Do yourself a favour, dont waste two hours watching this film. Stay tuned for more reviews of other films from me.

"Baby the Rain Must Fall" is a film about a super-dysfunctional family. The husband is a screw-up who seems to be determined to destroy his life. Although married to a pretty and amazingly long- suffering wife who has put up with him, he doesn't seem to appreciate her in the least. And, time and time again throughout this film he knows what choices to make and yet he chooses the wrong path. Although on parole and recently out of prison, he just seems determined to be sent back...all the while trying to make it big in a tiny town by singing with his rockabilly band.

If you are looking for a fun film, this sure ain't it!! But, if you are looking for good acting and an interesting portrait of a jerk and his young family, it's worth seeing. Well made...just not exactly a pleasant viewing experience.

By the way, if you do see it, in the opening portion where they show Steve McQueen singing the title song, look for a young Glen Campbell on the left. Also, it's pretty obvious by the voice that it ain't McQueen singing...and they should have at least chosen a singer whose voice was closer to his.

Also, the summary on IMDb says that the child is an infant. Nope. She appears to be about 4 years-old...not an infant at all.

I am a big fan of all the talent involved in BBY THE RAIN MUST FALL, both in front of and behind the camera. In fact the team of Robert Mulligan directing & Alan J Paula producing made some true quality films (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, LOVE WITH THE PROPER STRANGER, etc.) but this film just lays there - as dry and slow as a Texas tumbleweed. I have never read the Horton Foote play that he adapted the screenplay from but aside from laying out the tragic backstory of Steve McQueen's character - the writing is so by the numbers and slow and creaky. I love so many of Horton Foote's works - especially TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. In fact in the beginning of this film when Lee Remick is on the bus going to see her husband and an old lady sits next to her & starts telling her her life story, it certainly reminded me as an early template for BOUNTIFUL. But the story just limps along & I found myself not caring about the characters at all (it didn't help that the little girl cast to play McQueen's daughter was just bland with zero camera presence). One of the few interesting things about this misfire is when you briefly see McQueen performing with his band, there is Glen Campbell as one of his musicians along with the drummer being legendary session drummer Hal Blaine. In fact McQueen's singing is done by Billy Strange who was also a famous musician/songwriter - in fact Strange co-wrote the classic Elvis song "A Little Less Conversation". But sadly, I really have to say - even with all these talented people - to just skip this flick.

Next to "Sand Pebbles," this film is the best of Steve McQueen. The audience feels his "imprisonment " by the countryside , by the once rich lady who took him in , by his desire to be a singer in a band even if he hasn't all that much talent. I also felt his frustration with being unable to do what his heart desires , a frustration that almost destroys him. I love the symbol of the hope represented by the final shot of the china-berry tree he plants for his daughter , the title song that helps define McQueen's character ,and the final line in the film given by Lee to her daughter..What other human being has not felt these feelings ? A minor classic for me! A gem for both Steve and Lee"s acting , acting almost without words!

Georgette Thomas (Lee Remick) and her young daughter Margaret Rose are riding the bus to see her husband Henry Thomas (Steve McQueen) who just got out of prison. He's an irresponsible musician and has never met his daughter. The folks in his hometown try to help the self-destructive Henry.

This is a movie based on a play. The main issue is Georgette although Henry has his own issues. She is basically the damsel in distress on steroids. I don't know how she survives without charity. She's very one dimensional. On the other hand, he is almost unknowable. He's not a drunk or do drugs. He's just a dumb axx. I am intrigued with Steve McQueen in general and in this movie, he's trying to do southern gothic. That's interesting. Lee Remick is gorgeous lady, but she's in a tough spot playing this damsel. These characters need more developing.

It seems that every, single time I see Steve McQueen in any movie (be it from the beginning, the middle, or the end of his career), I always end up asking myself - "How the hell did this dull, non-charismatic bloke ever become a big-name star?"

I find McQueen to be one of the blandest, insincere and unconvincing actors of his (or any) generation. Far from being what I would consider a "cool" dude, McQueen really had a tendency to grate on my nerves with his blah character portrayals.

And if having to endure McQueen's dreary screen-dynamics was bad enough, I think that when it came to the depressing and absurd nature of this film's story, the viewer would have to be pretty dense and mighty gullible to take its utter nonsense at face value.

From my point of view, this film's only really worthwhile moments were the unintentionally hilarious scenes where McQueen (who was unconvincingly playing an ex-con with a mean, hair-trigger temper who's now trying to make it as a rockabilly singer) lip-syncs during his live performance on stage at the town's local hot-spot.

Man, you wouldn't believe how really bad McQueen was at lip-syncing. Not only could he not get his mouth in sync with the words, but the voice of the real singer did not suit McQueen at all.

Ha! What a laugh-and-a-half! McQueen was so pathetically bad that I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Set in the town of Columbus, Texas - This clichéd "rebel-without-a-cause" story really sucked. I thought that its title "Baby, The Rain Must Fall" was very unfitting, since all of the troubles (rain) that fell on McQueen's character were clearly brought on by his own stupid actions.

P.S. - Had this film not starred McQueen, then, yes, I might have actually rated it somewhat higher.

I first saw this picture when it was released and was so impressed I had to go back several times. I thought that it was a biography played as an autobiography. McQueen seemed to be playing his actual life on the screen. His formative years without a fathers guidance, his detention in a youth reformatory, a hit-or-miss education, and a spotty work record, all of this is covered in one form or another during the film. Steve is a great actor and an actors job is to convince the audience but here the viewer can almost see Steve's thoughts as he says his lines; you can hear the phrases '...this is my life, I've been through this all before...' The script shows him as a person who is forever controlled by someone else and indeed at one time he really was. Lee Remick and Don Murray are good, as they usually are, and are the only romantic interest in the entire film. The final scenes can make the viewer say 'god! Steve McQueen can really act!' but was he?

I am a huge Steve McQueen fan, but this movie is not worthy of his talent. The first thing you notice is that the singing voice is obviously not his. The plot is weak. It's tragic and frustrating to see this character make so many stupid mistakes and throw away everything he has. The ending is depressing. I'm sorry I wasted my time on this one.