 |
| The Rocky Horror Picture Show (soundtrack) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
The films that I'll be listing in my April postings may not necessarily be films that I'd call my favorite films, but they will be favorites in the genres I'll be naming. The A to Z genres are very specific micro genres as opposed to the broader genres like action, romance, or comedy.
I love rain. I enjoy long stretches of rainy days. Flooding is kind of cool though the damage it causes is not. My fascination with rain and flooding peaked back about 1974 or so when I started developing the concept for a novel that focused on rain and flooding in the Great Smoky Mountains. The novel remains unfinished--barely started actually--but I intend to go back to it eventually.
In the meantime I'll share some of my favorite films where rain is prominent:
A Walk in the Spring Rain (1970)--Actually there's not that much rain in this movie, but it does take place in the Great Smoky Mountains. Also I have a brief part in the film along with a couple of girls I went to high school with. Look for me in the Spring Festival sequence. I'm the guy with the clunky black glasses who passes briefly by. Don't blink or you'll miss me. The film is a love story starring Anthony Quinn and Ingrid Bergman.
Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)--It was a dark and stormy night... Thus begins the film that nearly everyone has seen. And if you see it at a midnight showing at a theater be sure to bring your umbrella.
Sorcerer (1977)-- Criminals hired to transport a load of unstable dynamite through Nicaragua are faced with many dangerous situations including heavy rain. A tense film with a great score by Tangerine Dream.
Blade Runner (1982)-- If this dystopian look at Los Angeles is to be believed, it's going to rain a lot there in the future. Great sci-fi based on a story by Philip K. Dick.
The Unforgiven (1992)--This Academy Award winning film stars and was directed by Clint Eastwood. It's a very realistic western and it rains a lot in this film.
Twister (1996)-- This is a film about tornado chasers and where there are tornadoes there is rain.
Hard Rain (1998)--I'm a big fan of this somewhat underrated heist film. A group of robbers steal the cargo of an armored truck, then must deal with massive rains and a flood. Soundtrack includes the song "Flood" by Jars of Clay.
The Unforgiven (1992)--This Academy Award winning film stars and was directed by Clint Eastwood. It's a very realistic western and it rains a lot in this film.
Twister (1996)-- This is a film about tornado chasers and where there are tornadoes there is rain.
Hard Rain (1998)--I'm a big fan of this somewhat underrated heist film. A group of robbers steal the cargo of an armored truck, then must deal with massive rains and a flood. Soundtrack includes the song "Flood" by Jars of Clay.
The Perfect Storm (2000)--A perfect storm should include a lot of rain and this film delivers. Not a perfect movie, but I enjoyed it.
I'll bet you can name many more rain movies: What are your favorites? Have you seen all or most of the ones I've listed? What do you enjoy most about the rain?
I can think of one - The Notebook.
ReplyDeleteDeecoded
A great selection here of films, though I haven't seen any unless they have been on the TV.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Does Rainman count as a Rain Movie?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Rainman. I like Tom Cruise and Sean Penn. And how S.P.'s character has a gift for counting, although he is autistic (I think that was his affliction, I'm not exactly sure though). And if I am not mistaken Sean Penn won an Academy Award for this role.
Perfect Storm was rain armageddon of rain movies. Blade Runner is a great movie no matter the category. My brain is running on empty so...Harry Potter Movies (I know characters got wet more than once - by rain).
ReplyDeleteIt did rain a lot in Blade Runner. Rained a lot in The Crow as well. Deep Blue Sea had a heck of a rainstorm.
ReplyDeleteDustin Hoffman was Rainman.
And have you ever read the book The Perfect Storm? I can't even watch the film now.
I have seen several of those movies but don't particularly remember the rain. I loved Rainman and yes, it was autism. Not big on Tom Cruise, but Dustin Hoffman was brilliant as usual.
ReplyDeleteNow I have to read the book Alex.
JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Singin' in the rain. It makes you wish it was raining so you can jump in puddles like Gene
ReplyDeleteKelly does.
Loved The Perfect Storm - read the book too. Bought the movie. Twister was amazing!
ReplyDeleteIn college, we saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show almost every weekend. We were the ones with the toast and the rice and the umbrellas...true fans who knew the routing. Great memories.
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
I liked Twister. Not very accurate though. Tornadoes don't growl like animals.
ReplyDeleteI love films that has scenes where it rains, although aren't some of these films more tropes in scenes than a specific genre?
ReplyDeleteDee -- I saw The Notebook but forgot about the rain.
ReplyDeleteYvonne -- I'm sure you've seen a few.
Lacey -- No, Rainman is not what I'd call a "rain" movie, but it is a mispronunciation movie. And it was Dustin Hoffman in the role with Cruise.
Sheena -- I still haven't seen any of the Potter films.
Alex -- Have not read the book of The Perfect Storm and only saw it once and that was at the theater when it first came out.
Jo -- I too liked the Hoffman role.
Fairview-- Singing in the Rain is an excellent choice. I didn't use it here since I'd already used it a few days ago for "Movies about Making Movies".
Tina -- I liked Twister a lot and liked the soundtrack enough to buy it.
L.Diane -- Yes, these movies like to make stuff up. I didn't put The Crow on this list because I though for sure you'd mention it. Of course, Alex already did.
Lee
Yeamie -- Well, rain fit "R" and the films I was thinking of used rain as integral plot part, themes, or just darn good scenes.
ReplyDeleteLee
Of all of these, I really liked Blade Runner and Perfect Storm. I just heard the author of Perfect Storm speak. He has documentary out about the death of his friend in Afghanistan. Haven't seen it, but the bits I heard from the sound track were haunting.
ReplyDeleteI love rain movies. Twister is probably my favorite on your list. I also love Romancing the Stone - the rainy part of that movie was awesome.
ReplyDeleteJaime at Awakenings and Reflections
Hi,
ReplyDeleteStopping by on the A to Z challenge and have nominated you for a Liebster:
http://checkerboard321.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/i-have-been-nominated-for-a-liebster/
Rocky Horror. Brilliant, classic film!
ReplyDeleteMy high school girlfriend talked me into a midnight showing of Rocky Horror without warning me.
ReplyDeleteWhen someone squirted me with a water pistol and threw rice at me, she had to keep from from climbing over the seat to pound the offender, explaining that this is just what people did here.
I suffered through it for her.
Later that night she paid me back.
Since then I have grown to like the film, mainly due to the soundtrack.
Good choices, Lee. I've seen about half of them. I've spent several minutes trying to come up with names of others, and I cannot think of a single one. So, my hat is off to you.
ReplyDeleteI know you used "Singin' in the Rain" already, and only one scene in that actually has rain, but that's definitely the most classic rain scene in a movie I can think of. That, and the very last scene in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" takes place in a heavy rainstorm. Makes me cry every time, too. SO GOOD. :)
ReplyDeleteC.Lee -- Interesting speaking engagement to have attended.
ReplyDeleteJaime -- Yes, I forgot about the scene in Romancing the Stone.
Checkerboard -- Thanks!
Daft-- I took one of my daughters to see Rocky Horror when she was about 13 and she loved it. That's the only time I'd seen it.
Larry -- I'd seen the Rocky Horror scene in the movie Fame so I knew what to expect from that. It was a weird event.
Robin -- It took me some time to think of titles and then I had to narrow down to the ones I'd liked best.
Jaimie -- I don't remember that scene in Breakfast..., but maybe I didn't see the entire film.
Lee
I would add Gene Kelly's 'Singing in the Rain?
ReplyDeleteHow cool that you were in a film! I have to confess, I have never seen the Rocky Horror Show. I know! Where have I been?
ReplyDeleteGlad to see someone call "Hard Rain' underrated, I liked that flick. 'Rocky Horror' and some of the things you guys say in the comment box. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI think anyone who goes to college knows the Rocky Horror Picture Show and I love Clint Eastwood in that movie.
ReplyDeletePerfect storm...isn't George clooney in that? I like a but of George. The first film I thought of was four weddings and. Funeral, where there standing in the rain kissing. Not a bad film. Singing in the rain is a classic!
ReplyDeleteThe only ones I've seen on your list are Twister and Rocky Horror. I thought Twister was goofy and I loved Rocky Horror. I've never been to one of those dress up, midnight showings, but it sounds like a blast! Someone mentioned Singing in the Rain..I adore that movie! The scene where Gene Kelly sings the title song, in the rain, splashing around..it's perfection.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of the movies, but I do love the rain as long as there are no tornadoes involved. I grew up in Arizona and my mom loved thunder storms so we would sit out on the front porch and watch the lightning, listen for the thunder, count the seconds between those two features and marvel at the breaths of wind that would blow the rain into our faces. I loved those times with her. I still get excited in a storm.
ReplyDeletetm
Sharon-- Oh believe me, Singing in the Rain was considered.
ReplyDeleteMary -- If it hadn't been for the cult status, Rocky Horror would probably have been forgotten.
Faraway -- I've watched Hard Rain many times and never tire of it. Loved it in the theater with SurroundSound.
Susan -- For a minute I was thinking, "Clint Eastwood was in Rocky Horror?" and then I realized what you meant.
Rowena -- Yes, I do believe George Clooney was in Perfect Storm.
Eve-- The real experience of Rocky Horror is the live midnight showing experience.
TM -- Yes, I like storms too!
Lee
How about the old classic "Dancing in the Rain." I had occasion to watch it again recently while my father-in-law stayed with us awhile. You picked some good ones in this list.
ReplyDeleteJagoda
Oh for a long stretch of rainy days. We could sure use some rain here in Texas. I'd certainly use this list to catch up on Rain Movies. Seems like you have plenty of 'background research' for your Rain novel, Arlee.
ReplyDeleteMy Letter 'R'...Rags to Riches
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee
Hi Lee .. I haven't seen any of these - but I did see Rainman ..
ReplyDeleteCheers Hilary
Never seen anyone of those. But The Notebook as Dee said.
ReplyDeleteWhat...no RAIN MAN? Okay, I know there's no actual rain in it....but still. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great selection of films. Thanks, Lee.
ReplyDeleteJagoda -- Singing in the Rain I've heard of, but Dancing in the Rain is a new one on me.
ReplyDeleteSue -- I'm sure you need more rain like we in Southern California do.
Hilary -- Rainman was a good film. Was there any rain in it?
Me -- The Notebook was a real tearjerker. Even my eyes moistened up a bit on that one.
DL -- Yeah, yeah--I know.
Fe -- I liked these.
Lee
How fun you got to be an extra! I've been an extra in a couple of movies, and a couple of shows as well.
ReplyDeleteI like your choices, although I'm not a fan of Twister. I can't seem to think of other rain movies not mentioned, although I love rain as well.
#atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com
Sadly I haven't seen any of these. the only other movie that sprang to mind for Rain Movies was Singin' in the Rain. I see great minds think alike because several people have mentioned that already.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have an interesting perspective on movies in a whole A-Z genre!! "A Walk in the Spring Rain, "Unforgiven" and "Perfect Storm" and super films!!
ReplyDeletePatricia, Sugar & Spice & All Things ? Nice
Unforgiven was great. I'm a sucker for a really good western.
ReplyDeleteKristen -- But what about the cows being carried off by the tornado. How could you not like that bit of absurdity?
ReplyDeleteImogen -- Singing in the Rain was a very obvious choice.
Patricia -- I've been trying to cover a wide range of films.
Jeff-- I'm due to watch The Unforgiven again. It's been several years since I watched it.
Lee
I have again watched only Perfect Storm and have thoroughly enjoyed it!
ReplyDelete