BABY, THE RAIN MUST FALL

US, 1965, 100 minutes, Black and White.
Steve Mc Queen, Lee Remick, Don Murray, Josephine Hutchinson, Ruth White.
Directed by Robert Mulligan.

Baby, the Rain Must Fall is a folksy, local tale made enjoyable and interesting for wider audiences by the engaging cast and the gentle direction of Robert Mulligan (who has made such excellent films as To Kill a Mockingbird, Up the Down Staircase, The Stalking Moon). The plot concerns a footloose musician, his wife and young daughter and a pleasant sheriff who tries to help. A fine, humane film.

1. The meaning of the title, in view of its use in the song? The theme of the film?

2. The original play was called "The Travelling Lady". How appropriate for the film? How did this provide a framework for the film's structure, Georgette going into the town and at the end leaving it? Did this give a unity to the film? How?

3. Comment on the use of locations, black and white photography, the Texas atmosphere created in the film. How realistic was this and how was it done? E.g. the bus ride, people on the bus, looking out of the window at the prisoners, the arrival in the town?

4. How wise a film in its insight into human behaviour? Some reviewers see it as wise. Some see it as no more than an example of conventional cliches. Which interpretation do you prefer? Why?

5. Who was the central character ? Georgette or Henry? Why?

6. How attractive a person was Georgette? Why had she married Henry Thomas? What value did she place on the marriage? How attached and loving was she to Margaret Rose? Why were they travelling to Columbus and why had they travelled so much? What effect had this on them and on Margaret Rose? Was Georgette a person who succeeded or failed? Why did she want to settle down? How important was finding her husband and getting a home? Her diligence in setting up the home? Her attempts to keep Henry at home? How desperate was she? How authentic was this portrayal of Georgette?

7. How interesting a person was Henry? Did the film explain clearly why he was in prison? His violence? His upbringing with Miss Kate and her severity? His desire to play in the band? (Was Steve Mc Queen convincing as a player and as a singer? The significance of the songs he sang, their words? His ambitions?) The question of the night-school band? His propensity for violence and his attack on the people who ridiculed his song? His inability to settle? How capable of loving was he? Did he love his wife and daughter? Which sequence illustrated this best ? the bedroom scene with his wife, the planting of the tree with his daughter? Was he a loser? Why?

8. How attractive was Margaret Rose? A humane element to the film? The style of her acting and its impression on an audience, drawing audience sympathy? The directors handling of the child and the prominence of her role? How did the childlike atmosphere permeate the whole film?

9. Your reaction to Miss Kate? was she in any way sympathetic? Why was she so cruel? Terrorising her assistant? The impact of her funeral and her death? Its effect on Henry? His behaviour at the funeral? Why?

10. How were the sheriff and Miss Clara sympathetic characters and a balance to Miss Kate? Miss Clara and her understanding of Georgette and the situation? Her kindness to them all?

11. What role did Slim play? The offering of his love and undivided assistance to Georgette? His friendship with Henry? The necessity for arresting Henry? Did he show, in any way, that he was jealous of Henry? What kind of person was he?

12. Did Henry have any option but to escape after he had been arrested? How sad for all those concerned was his arrest? How desperate was Georgette? How tired? How was this communicated in the film? Why did Henry want freedom? The desperate nature of his running away to the truck? What did this communicate?

13. The irony of the two cars passing at the end, Georgette going on, Henry going to prison. what comment on life and its hardships did this make? What hopes did Georgette and Margaret Rose have for the future as they went on? Would they meet Henry again?

14. Does the discussion on this kind of film reveal values that are not so evident when it is being screened?