Rain (1932)

[StarDestroyer52]

Saw this on the CinePost Facebook page in a post from last month:

"Rain"(1932) in 4K. Wetgate 35mm used to transfer. Beautiful film with Joan Crawford and Walter Huston. This will be restored and released on Blu-ray. We love doing 35mm scans in 4K. The Filmgrain is Magic!

When asked if they knew who was releasing the BluRay they said:

we won’t know for a couple months....

The print in the video looks amazing. I wonder what company could be releasing this pre-Code gem?

[BluBonnet]

Watched this on TCM, good movie.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Watched this on TCM, good movie.

I've been meaning to watch this but always miss it when its on TCM, so I hope this is true and it comes to BluRay as a huge pre-Code fan. I've seen the 1928 Sadie Thompson with Gloria Swanson which is a masterpiece and the later highly sanitized 1953 Miss Sadie Thompson with Rita Hayworth which is enjoyable enough giving the massive constraints of the Code.

[BluPat]

Wow! Hope this is true. I've never seen this.

[belcherman]

It's public domain, so the release could come from anybody. I hope whoever releases it also includes the 1928 version.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by belcherman

It's public domain, so the release could come from anybody. I hope whoever releases it also includes the 1928 version.

That's true, but from the looks of that scan on Facebook its coming from a company that really cares about the product. I wonder if that company is someone like Milestone that is releasing Rain? We can really only guess about the company if this does come, but I am really excited about the possibility that this could come to BluRay.

As for the silent version, The KL Insider said they no longer had the rights to the 1928 version of Sadie Thompson when asked about Swanson titles even though every TV broadcast which are frequently showed are the Kino International 1987 restoration that was from the only surviving print that was in Mary Pickford's personal film archive and that we were lucky it was discovered when it was so if that version is released I can't imagine that the film will look any better.

[Allen Voice]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

I've been meaning to watch this but always miss it when its on TCM, so I hope this is true and it comes to BluRay as a huge pre-Code fan. I've seen the 1928 Sadie Thompson with Gloria Swanson which is a masterpiece and the later highly sanitized 1953 Miss Sadie Thompson with Rita Hayworth which is enjoyable enough giving the massive constraints of the Code.

This is my favorite version of the Maugham story. Groundbreaking camera mobility and audio quality for such an early sound film. Great performances. I have the Roan Group DVD. It is currently the best home video release of this film. It looks VERY good. I can't wait to see this blu ray!

[StarDestroyer52]

VCI PLANS NEW 4K RESTORATION OF RAIN (1932)
This will be the original, uncut, pre-code version.

VCI Entertainment in conjunction with the Mary Pickford Foundation and the Library of Congress Film Archive, will be undertaking a new restoration of Lewis Milestone’s version of W. Somerset Maugham’s famed story. This is arguably the best known, and seldom seen versions (the second of three versions filmed) with Joan Crawford giving one of her finest performances as Sadie Thompson, a bad girl who soon becomes the object of a missionary’s almost fanatic attentions which eventually leads to his destruction and Sadie’s apparent reformation. A film that caused controversy when first released, RAIN is one of the classic drams that has its own place in film history. Walter Huston, Guy Kibbee, Beulah Bondi and William Gargan also star.
When VCI decided to give RAIN the 4K treatment, it was soon realized that their 35mm fine grain was of the 1950’s re-issue, which had been severely cut to pass the stricter moral standards of the “Hays Code”. Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in pictures in 1929 and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known as the “Hays Code”, in mid-1934. Although the Code was adopted in 1930, oversight was poor, and it did not become rigorously enforced until July 1, 1934, with the establishment of the Production Code Administration.

Once it became known that VCI was dealing with a cut source, a search began for more film material. First stop was to the Library of Congress, where George Willeman, head of the film archive, let them know that they indeed have a 35mm film negative and fine grain on the uncut film, however it was owned by the Mary Pickford Foundation, who would have to give permission to access the film. VCI was led to contact Elaina Friedrichsen, director of the Mary Pickford Foundation, who graciously and enthusiastically granted permission.
The restoration process will start by making a state-of-the-art scan of all the 35mm film elements in 4K resolution. A new scan master will then be created by editing the best and most complete film footage, to create a complete uncut version of the movie. Then the uncut master will be digitally restored frame-by-frame to repair any defects, scratches and dirt. The soundtrack will also go through a thorough digital restoration to remove all pops, crackle and hiss. The whole process should restore this important film classic to all its glory.
Look for RAIN to be available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital, sometime in mid-2020.

[BluPat]

Great news! This will be a Day 1 purchase!

[babybreese]

Joan looks thrilled to hear her favorite 3 letters.

[octobercountry]

Am really looking forward to this. From the press release, it sounds like the restored version will look as good as possible.

[murphywmm]

Anything with Joanie is worth purchasing!

[StarDestroyer52]

From someone over at HTF:

vcistoreadminsays:
Sorry for the delay in responding. The RAIN project has been on hold due to the Library of Congress closing because of the Covid-19 pandemic. They officially opened last week and we should be able to start working on that project again and hope to have it available early in 2021.

[Beckford]

Originally Posted by Allen Voice

This is my favorite version of the Maugham story. Groundbreaking camera mobility and audio quality for such an early sound film. Great performances.

My favorite version as well. It would have been great if Jeanne Eagels had lived to do a sound version of her stage triumph. I've seen two of her films "Man, Woman and Sin"(silent) and "The Letter"(sound) and she's impressive in both. Nevertheless, Crawford makes a memorable Sadie Thompson. There's a confrontation scene between her and Walter Huston (i believe he's on a staircase, she's below) that's positively electrifying. Some of the best - and most emotionally untethered acting the lady ever did. And - yes - the film's camerawork is extremely creative, beautifully fluid. Can't wait to add this one to my collection. Hope that Atlantic Pictures poster is the one VCI uses for its cover.

[BluPat]

Hope to have this come out soon.

[StarDestroyer52]

From HTF:

vcistoreadminsays:

To all fans of RAIN, we should be resuming our restoration very soon, now that the Library of Congress is open again. We would like to have it out before Christmas, so wish us some luck, and stay tuned for more updates!

[BluPat]

Anymore news on this release?

[BluPat]

VCI messaged me back and said they are definitely still releasing it. But it's just taking a little longer because of all that's been going on but to "hang in there" and to know "Rain" (1932) is coming.

[BluPat]

I got a message from VCI yesterday:

Update, we have just finished scanning all the film elements from the Library of Congress, so the project will definitely be moving forward and should be available in September.

[cryptkeeper]

That's great news. Thanks for the updates.