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      A Hatful of Rain

      Released Jul 17, 1957 1 hr. 49 min. Drama List
      Reviews 75% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Based on the play by Michael V. Gazzo, this screen drama focuses on Johnny Pope (Don Murray), a Korean War vet with a severe morphine habit. Though Johnny tries to keep his addiction a secret from his pregnant wife, Celia (Eva Marie Saint), and his brother, Polo (Anthony Franciosa), his deception becomes difficult to maintain, especially in the confines of their small apartment. When Johnny and Polo's estranged father turns up, the stage is set for plenty of family conflict. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Oct 04 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member It's rare indeed to find a movie from the 1950's that delves much into the subject of substance abuse. It's even harder to find one that shows it so realistically as this. Based on the play, "A Hatful of Rain" , the film centers around four members of a family. Two brothers, the wife of one of them, and the brothers father. The writing is strong in that it gives us several complicated relationships. Each character has a story with each character. It juggles these relationships quite well. Anthony Franciosa received a Best Actor nomination for his role, but I think that on Murray had the more scene stealing part and should have got a nomination. Eva Marie Saint is superb as the young, pregnant wife. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review steve d Some good acting but a weak script Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Risky subject matter for the time which is part of its good points and rating, the slight lack of focus between the stories surrounding the main story are a little too elaborated upon. Would have been nice to see a scene or two of Johnny Pope fixing, but let's remember this was 1957. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review walter m "A Hatful of Rain" starts with John Pope(Lloyd Nolan) paying a visit to his son Johnny(Don Murray) and pregnant daughter-in-law Celia(Eva Marie Saint) in New York City. However, this is not a purely social call, as he is inquiring about the $2,500 that his other son Polo(Anthony Franciosa), a bouncer, promised him that he needs for a nightclub he is planning on opening back in Florida. But Polo no longer has the money. And neither does Johnny what with his being in debt to a shady customer like Mother(Henry Silva) and just recently being secretly unemployed. To its credit, "A Hatful of Rain" seeks to be an early serious look at drug addiction, while also being very much ahead of the curve in dramatizing the life of a soldier who came back from the war an addict. And as much as the movie makes great use of location shooting on the Lower East Side, it ends up clashing with the story's stage roots, very much in evidence. At the same time, "A Hatful of Rain" suffers from a clear lack of focus. That is quite a dubious achievement when you notice that there are only four principal characters in the movie and it's supposed to be about Johnny's addiction. Instead there are tons of daddy issues...which are Polo's. That's not to mention a rather shaky love triangle going on at the same time. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Don't understand why there isn't more love for this. I thought it was a good groundbreaking film on the topic of addiction right up there with the Lost Weekend. I'm not as familiar with most of these actors but their internal struggles are brought to the screen with great vigor. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member 55 years later this is still a powerful, tense, well-acted drama. In watching this I'm surprised Don Murray wasn't a bigger film star. Eva Marie Saint is brilliant as always. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (3) Critics Reviews
      Peter John Dyer Sight & Sound Certain choice themes from Death of a Salesman and The Rack echo throughout with rueful opportunism, only to join a mainstream of equally familiar basic preoccupations. Mar 31, 2020 Full Review Jonas Mekas Film Culture The film is all realism and no poetry, no poetry to lift it above mere surface. Mar 30, 2022 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Anthony Franciosa received Oscar nomination for Zinnemman's realistic drama about drug addiction, which was still a taboo issue in Hollywood of the 1950s. Rated: B- Jun 3, 2012 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Based on the play by Michael V. Gazzo, this screen drama focuses on Johnny Pope (Don Murray), a Korean War vet with a severe morphine habit. Though Johnny tries to keep his addiction a secret from his pregnant wife, Celia (Eva Marie Saint), and his brother, Polo (Anthony Franciosa), his deception becomes difficult to maintain, especially in the confines of their small apartment. When Johnny and Polo's estranged father turns up, the stage is set for plenty of family conflict.
      Director
      Fred Zinnemann
      Screenwriter
      Michael V. Gazzo, Alfred Hayes, Carl Foreman
      Distributor
      20th Century Fox
      Production Co
      Twentieth Century Fox
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jul 17, 1957, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 20, 2014
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