The Rains Came

Set in a region of India called Ranchipur. Rama Safti, who trained as a doctor in America, comes home to work for the poor. At the same time the English Lady Edwina and her former lover Tom Ransome, a painter given to drink, are also there. Then the earthquake comes, and after it the flood and the epidemic; who everyone really is becomes clear across those three disasters. Adapted by Clarence Brown from Louis Bromfield's novel, the film won the Academy Award for special effects the first year it was given. The earthquake and flood sequences are startling even now, built from models, matte paintings and enormous water tanks. Myrna Loy and Tyrone Power are in the cast. The way the film pictures India belongs to its period, and its Indian lead is played by an American actor.