MIRACLE IN THE RAIN

US, 1956, 108 minutes, Black and white.
Jane Wyman, Van Johnson, Peggie Castle, Fred Clark, Eileen Heckart, Josephine Hutchinson, Marcel Dalio, Barbara Nichols, Paul Picerni, Alan King.
Directed by Rudolph Mate.

Miracle in the Rain was one of the favourite tearjerker films of the mid-50s. It portrays a shy young woman played by Jane Wyman who encounters a private played by Van Johnson. Not only do they meet, bond with one another but the soldier has a transforming effect on the young woman culminating in a scene on the steps of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Jane Wyman was a versatile actress and had won an Oscar for her performance as a deaf mute in Johnny Belinda in 1948. Van Johnson was a popular leading man, especially in musicals and comedies. There is strong support from Eileen Heckart who was to win an Oscar for best supporting actress in 1972 for Butterflies Are Free.

The film is simple, sentimental in many ways, a satisfying film for those who like romance and tears.

The film was directed by Rudolph Mate, a cinematographer from Denmark who worked with Carl Theodor Dreyer and who made a number of thrillers and action films in Hollywood including The Black Shield of Falworth.

1. The significance of the title and its illustration in the film? How humane a film was this? How real was it in its characters? In its situations? How explicitly religious was it? How implicitly religious? The reality of the miracle? The change of heart? The mystical overtones of Ruth's experience at the end of the film?

2. How emotional a film was this? How much sentiment? How genuinely human and humane? What was the ultimate response to this film? How much sharing of people with ordinary lives and love? How much sharing in suffering? What was there to learn by sharing the experience of Ruth and Arthur? Was this film
made principally for women or was it acceptable for men and women?

3. How important was the New York background? The fact that the film was made in its streets? The city as an atmosphere and a reality? The dark? The people? The Cathedral? The restaurant? The homes and apartments, How important was the contribution of this atmosphere to the film?

4. Was Ruth an attractive character? Jane Wyman's playing of her? The audience's identification with her? How important was the atmosphere of her life? How well did the film fill in her background? her family and work? The reasons why shyness and few friends were part of her life? Her capacity for love? Her capacity for suffering?

5. The importance of her mother and her influence on Ruth? The suicide and desertion background? Her devotion to her mother? Her fearing to be like her mother? Her mother's hold on her? The contrast with her father? Brief encounters with her father and her response to him?

6. How attractive a man was Art? His first meeting with Ruth? His vitality and humour? His love for her? The impact of his love in her life? His style in walking around the park, meeting people, the restaurant, the church?

7. How successful a love story? The picturing of romance? The picturing of love? Which incidents showed this best? How?

8. The impact of war on them? How important was this theme? Its impact on the two? Intensifying love? Intensifying sadness and suffering?

10. How moving was the picture of sadness? After Art's death? Ruth's witness? The effect of this on her life? Her refuge in the cathedral? The advice of the priest and his kindness? Leading up to the miracle?

11. What contribution did Grace make to the film? How attractive was she as a person? Her friendship with Ruth? His wisdom and advice for Ruth?

12. What did Mr Jalonik add to the film? His affair with his secretary? The contrast of this kind of behaviour with Ruth's experience? The sophisticated city and its allies contrasting with her sincerity and straightforwardness?

13. How successful was the resolution of the film? Was it too mystifying? Did it seen at all possible? Did this matter?

14. What was the ultimate impact of the film? How optimistic was it? How helpful for people who shared the experience?