Rain or Shine (1930)

Interesting facts

Rain or Shine is a 1930 American pre-Code film directed by Frank Capra and starring Joe Cook, Louise Fazenda and Joan Peers. In the on-screen credits, Fazenda and Peers are shown side by side, with Fazenda first. In fact Peers plays the heroine. Fazenda appears as a Cooch dancer in what might be called a cameo role today. The film was adapted from a hit Broadway musical of the same name and was originally planned as a full-scale musical. Due to the public backlash against musical films, all musical numbers were discarded before release. This move proved to be prudent as the film was a box office success, continuing the streak of hits Capra directed for the young Columbia Pictures studio.

Production

Cook, Howard and Chasen reprised their roles from the musical.

Part of the film was filmed at the Burbank, California ranch of boxer James J. Jeffries, who also appeared in the film.

To capture the fire, Frank Capra burned down the entire set, using several cameras to film it from every possible angle.

Although the musical's songs were not performed, "Rain or Shine" is heard in the background, as is the hit “Happy Days Are Here Again,” which Franklin Delano Roosevelt adopted as his campaign theme song for the 1932 Presidential election.

See the Wikipedia article about Joe Cook to learn how he acquired all the skills showcased in the film.

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