The Rains Came (1939)

60% of users liked it
(473 ratings)

Myrna Loy stars in Clarence Brown's sumptuous and exotic romance, based upon the novel by Louis Bromfield. Loy plays Lady Edwina Esketh, the unhappily married wife of Lord Albert Esketh (Nigel Bruce), a dumpy middle-aged English businessman. Edwina escapes her loneliness by engaging in ephemeral… More Myrna Loy stars in Clarence Brown's sumptuous and exotic romance, based upon the novel by Louis Bromfield. Loy plays Lady Edwina Esketh, the unhappily married wife of Lord Albert Esketh (Nigel Bruce), a dumpy middle-aged English businessman. Edwina escapes her loneliness by engaging in ephemeral love affairs. When Lord Albert travels to the Indian province of Ranchipur, Edwina encounters one of her past lovers, Tom Ransome (George Brent). Tom wants to renew his acquaintance with Edwina, but she has set her sights on a young Indian doctor, Major Rama Safti (Tyrone Power), the court favorite of the reigning maharajah (H.B. Warner) who may inherit the throne one day. Rama is dedicated to helping the poor and, as Edwina falls deeply in love with him, she begins to notice of the plight of the poverty stricken. When a terrible earthquake decimates Ranchipur, Edwina joins with Rama to help tend to the victims of this tragedy. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Clarence Brown
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 9, 1939 Wide
On DVD: Nov 1, 2005

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Tyrone Power is miscast, but by standards of the time, this was a prestige, lavish production, winning an Oscar for Special Effects (spectacular flood).
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I could listen to the legendary Maria Ouspenskaya talk while dangling a cigarette on a long holder without ever tiring of her magical charm.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Spectacular, entertaining Hollywood craftsmanship.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
Succeeds on the adjusted level of Hollywood spectacle for the time of its making, but comes off as quaint and dramatically preprogrammed by today's standards of entertainment.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

High gloss drama with, for the time, first class special effects. Myrna somewhat surprisingly plays a selfish slut, a high class slut but a slut nonetheless, at least in the beginning redeemed by love and hardship. Tyrone Power although not at all believable as an Indian is capable… More
High gloss drama with, for the time, first class special effects. Myrna somewhat surprisingly plays a selfish slut, a high class slut but a slut nonetheless, at least in the beginning redeemed by love and hardship. Tyrone Power although not at all believable as an Indian is capable and sincere. Even the customarily stolid George Brent after some initial stiffness is better and more relaxed than usual. Excellent production values and a first rate supporting cast make this an entertaining winner.
Patrick D

Typically classic hollywood, not bad though.

Cast

            Myrna Loy as Lady Edwina Esketh

            Tyrone Power as Maj. Rama Safti

            George Brent as Tom Ransome

            Brenda Joyce as Fern Simon

            Nigel Bruce as Albert Lord Esketh

            Maria Ouspenskaya as Maharani

            Joseph Schildkraut as Mr. Bannerjee

            Mary Nash as Miss MacDaid

            Jane Darwell as Aunt Phoebe Smiley

            Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs. Simon

            Henry Travers as Rev. Homer Smiley

            H.B. Warner as Maharajah

            Laura Hope Crewes as Lily Hoggett-Egbury

            William Royle as Raschid Ali Khan

            Harry Hayden as Rev. Elmer Simon

            Herbert Evans as Bates

            Abner Biberman as John the Baptist

            Mara Alexander as Mrs. Bannerjee

            William Edmunds as Mr. Das

            Guy D'Ennery as Mr. Durga

            Fern Emmett as Hindu Woman

            Sam Harris as Officer

            Jamiel Hasson as Aide-de-Camp

            Leyland Hodgson as Doctor

            Frank Lackteen as Engineer

            Connie Leon
            
            Lal Chand Mehra as Chant Singer

            Rita Page as Maid

            George Regas as Rajput

            Pedro Regas as Official

            C. Montague Shaw as Gen. Keith

            Eddie Abdo as Soldier

            Rosina Galli as Nurse
See full cast

The Rains Came (1939)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Patrick D

Cast