You’re a director. You have a vision. It’s a final fight scene. A first kiss. A monster’s revelation. Yet, your vision seems incomplete… something is missing and you can’t put your finger on it. Then it hits you, something so simple, so obvious, you can’t believe it took you so long to think it up. Rain. That’s how you make almost any scene exponentially cooler and one to remember. Myself, I’ve always been a fan of the effective usage of rain during a scene, specifically a scene that includes fighting. I’m not sure what it is, but I think it’s the way I’m wired – the same way that watching a football game during a torrential downpour is just so much more fun.
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at memorable rain-soaked scenes throughout the years in cinema.
Singin’ in the Rain
Perhaps the most famous and iconic scene in cinema involving rain, there’s no better way to start the list off. Here we have Gene Kelly (who reportedly had a 103 degree fever when filming this scene), tapping his way through the street, splashing in puddles, the happiest man alive, a man in love. Because a man in love should always dance in the rain.
Cool Hand Luke
“Just standin’ in the rain, talking to myself,” Luke Jackson says after calling out to a God he’s not sure he believes in, hoping for an answer, even a sign. This is one of my favorite scenes of all-time and how effective would it have been without Luke standing unaffected by the rain, while every single other inmate and guard ran for cover? It gives us one of the largest glimpses into Luke’s complicated mind.
Blade Runner
But if any scene can give the one from Cool Hand Luke a run for it’s money, it’s the ending of Blade Runner. After being chased through an abandoned building by the more than a little angry replicant Roy Batty, Rick Deckard finds himself on the roof in the pouring rain, running for his life from what he himself had been chasing the entire film. Rutger Hauer gives a speech that on paper probably sounded ridiculous, and maybe from a lesser actor’s mouth it would have came off as such, but the way he delivers the lines and the emotion plastered on his face, it makes for one of the most memorable movie endings of all-time.
Road to Perdition
Here we have one of my favorite films of the decade, the vastly underappreciated mob movie starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman, who at almost 80 during the filming showed why he is still perhaps the greatest actor that ever graced the screen (the delivery of his line in here… heart-wrenching!). The cinematography and direction of the scene is beautifully done, the rain almost becoming another character in the scene – and once again, try to picture the scene over without the pitter-pattering of the rain on the ground and their hats and you’ll get the picture.
The Last Samurai
While oozing with cliches and a completely by-the-books and unbelievable script, I enjoyed the hell out of The Last Samurai (like I enjoy most of Edward Zwick’s melodramatic, sappy period pieces), and one of the scenes that has stuck in my head over the past few years was when Tom Cruise’s character Captain Nathan Algren goes all Cool Hand Luke and refuses to stay down during a wooden sword fight with one of the spiteful Japanese samurai where he is obviously outmatched. Some great imagery here.
The Brotherhood of the Wolf
Outside of the sleek visuals and cinematography, The Brotherhood of the Wolf is a pretty forgettable movie. This scene has never left my mind though. You can tell that when they imagined this scene, the filmmakers were on the same page as me. They knew how cool rain would look during a fight scene and here they showcase it. They’re not trying to hide the fact either.
You’re going to have to excuse the awful edit of the video below, where some schmuck thought it’d be a good idea to add in music by The Doors and MC Hammer (there is no music during this scene in the actual movie, which worked WONDERFULLY – but hey, this is the only video of it I could find, so we’ll work with it).
The Matrix Revolutions
Maybe the most ridiculous, over-the-top fight scene ever, the rain was simply thrown in here because the Wachowski bros knew how cool fighting in the rain was. I’m pretty sure they thought up this fight scene back when they were in junior high school.
The Shawshank Redemption
After over two hours of seeing Andy Dufresne sent to prison, unfairly treated, beaten, raped, starved, and what have you, could there have been a more satisfying ending than this, as the rain washes away the past twenty-some years of his life (not to mention all that fecal matter). Hope triumphs.
Point Blank
One cannot possibly have a complete list of great rain scenes without the ending of Point Break thrown in the mix.
Jurassic Park
And how much more frightening was the iconic T-Rex scene in Jurassic Park because of the torrential downpour? Before the T-Rex ever appears, the rain through the darkness sets an eerie tone. The scene is mostly quiet until the dinosaurs appearance, all except from some dialogue and of course, the pattering of the rain, which quickly assists in building the tension.
The Notebook
If rain can make fighting look so much cooler, everybody knows that it doesn’t get any more romantic than kissing in the pouring rain. Every girl dreams of a guy sweeping her off her feet only to have the fury of the rain gods leashed upon the two as he lays his lips on her. Every single girl wants this. It’s just science.
Spider-Man
Another kissing in the rain scene. Although I get the feeling that this rain was a little cold. Who can forget this scene from Spider-Man that had all the kiddies excited?
Garden State
Just another romance in the rain example… this time ponchos included.
Magnolia
Of course, the very end of Magnolia has one of the most memorable rain scenes of all time. I’ll leave it at that, but I warn you, if you haven’t watched the movie, you should probably skip this and go rent it so you don’t ruin anything!
Naturally, there are many more. Akira Kurosawa truly understood the power of rain in film and used in effectively in almost all of his films such as Seven Samurai and Rashomon (unfortunately finding clips of them online seems next to impossible). Other clips from 28 Days Later, Casablanca, Platoon, Miller’s Crossing, Backwoods, Open Range and so on could have all been included, but again, I only added ones I could find accompanying video for.
But now it’s your turn. What scenes did I miss?
Wow, this post is amazing. Anyways, Pleasantville would be a nice addition to the list.
The Matrix Revolutions rain-fight scene is ‘borrowed’ from Korean auteur Lee Myung-Se’s Nowhere to Hide
Another great use of rain would be Takeshi Kitano’s re-envisioning of Zatoichi.
and another one of my favourite little obscure gems, Jeux D’Enfants:
(which I use for the masthead of my KBT blog.)
And of course, Nicholas Roeg’s DON’T LOOK NOW (Finite Focus Entry):
I’m so glad to see Road to Perdition on here, but then right afterwards comes The Last Samurai…
I think you should include the scene between Bob Balaban and Paul Giamatti from Lady In The Water.
Not a fan of the film (actually, I kind of loathe it), but people seem to like the closer in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. But I do remember the finale, so there’s that…
(I just know that Peppard is thinking: “I love it when a plan comes together.”)
Two more Sci-Fi’s
The end of DUNE, the end of Total Recall.
I give you the rain scene which makes me cry every. single. time.
Brando screaming ‘Stella’ in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ is definately a classic in the rain moment.
you know what Marina, I have to agree with that choice, not so much making me cry, but that is such a well executed moment in the film.
The wife made me watch Becoming Jane and really put those films side by side and appreciate just how well done Wright’s film is.
Becoming Jane never worked for me. I haven’t seen it since the theatrical release but I remember thinking that the relationship felt forced and the music “heavy”. I’ve been meaning to give it a second look but haven’t had the chance to do so recently.
good call on Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
what about Hero?
Awesome post.
I loved all of the scenes above (I always had a soft spot for that moment from Garden State…partly because I always loved Simon and Garfunkel’s “Only Living Boy in New York”
I second the additions of ZATOICHI and BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S.
My additions would be the opening of Akira Kurosawa’s RASHOMON, as well as a pretty funny scene from YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (“Could be worse…could be raining”. Loved Marty Feldman!)
what about Hero?
Another great one
Dave: The main good thing about Garden State is the great soundtrack. I also love Zero-7′s “In the Waiting Line” and how it is used in that mediocre film.
And I’m slapping my forehead for not thinking of the vintage Yen vs. Li Fight in their minds. Love that scene.
I must admit though, as much as I appreciate a good rain scene, the camera above the protagonist (a la Cool Hand Luke or Shawshank Redemption) often comes across more as a visual cliche now than anything powerful. I remember seeing Shawshank in 1995 and thinking that was the worst scene in the film….
And does Snow count? I love the closing fight in House of Flying Daggers and how the seasons change during the battle.
Yes but the cliche originated with the great one in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, that was the first that popped in my mind with dramatic rain scenes.
How is this scene not included?
Great list …a scene from ‘Rashomon’ would have been a good addition. Cool ass rain in that movie.
I also like the raining scene in Cinema Paradiso where the people go out on boats to see the movie on the ocean, then Toto and Elena kiss as it cuts forth to older Toto in bed reminiscing.
Or what about the scene in the flashback sequence of
Or in The Graduate right before when Elaine realizes Ben and Mrs. Robinson were in an affair?
Or one of the opening scenes of Once Upon a Time in America with the bodies of Max and others on the ground. Or the execution sequence in Duck, You Sucker.
How about in Unbreakable when Willis falls into the pool?
That scene in Brotherhood of the Wolf is completely awesome. It actually makes the film. And the rain really makes the scene. Good call on that one. Too bad the shitty music is tattooed over the top of it in that YouTube version (not to mention the overall quality). But I LOVE that scene. In fact, the entire movie has such aesthetic appeal I can hardly stand it. One of the best looking movies I’ve ever seen.
I think you nailed this Jonathan. When I think rain in a movie, three films instantly pop into my head:
Brotherhood of the Wolf
The Notebook
Garden State
@Matt – LOL. I don’t watch the show but that’s pretty funny. Rain a superstar for a reason.
Peter Weir’s “THE LAST WAVE”
Lethal Weapon – awesome fight.
**Just saw that on youtube – it’s not actually in the rain it’s just a hydrant that’s burst:P Still – awesome fight:D
Ross. Totally. One of my favorite fights in movie history. The no holds barred rumble in the front yard.
“One of the best looking movies I’ve ever seen.”
I won’t argue that, Andrew. The movie itself is mediocre (mostly for the lackluster final act), but yeah, I bought it just so I could bask in its beauty whenever I please.
Rain also splashes very nicely in slow-motion, I might add, as showcased in Brotherhood of the Wolf.
I forgot how absolutely ridiculous those last two Matrix movies were.
Has no one suggested the Helm’s Deep battle from the Two Towers? I know it’s considered the least awesome of the LOTR trilogy as a whole movie, but the hour-long fight scene at the end was insane.
i can’t even remember the helm’s deep battle in Two Towers. There was rain?
i think the best use of rain to build tension is Jurassic Park. mediocre movie. PERFECTLY directed scene.
I can’t think of a single memorable rain scene this past year. Either my memory is going or the cliche is coming to an end.
They used a pretty memorable one in Young Victoria. In fact when I saw it I immediately thought of this article and proceeded immediately by Pride and Prejudice.
But yeah, other than that I can’t think of one.
Two movies I saw in the past 10 days with good rain scenes:
Pitch Black
Back to the Future