- Published on
Brief and beautiful.
Still from Exibitors Herald World (July 20, 1929)
Date of Release: April 17, 1929
Studio: Sono-Art Productions
Director: Fred Newmeyer
Screenplay: George J. Crone, Frances Agnew, Eddie Dowling
Music: Eddie Dowling, James F. Hanley, Jean Herbert, Andrew B. Sterling
Leading Actors: Eddie Dowling (Rainbow Ryan), Frankie Darrow (Billy Ryan), Sam Hardy (Doc Hardy), Lloyd Ingraham (Colonel Lane), Marian Nixon (Mary Lane), George Hayes (Bill)
Studio: Sono-Art Productions
Director: Fred Newmeyer
Screenplay: George J. Crone, Frances Agnew, Eddie Dowling
Music: Eddie Dowling, James F. Hanley, Jean Herbert, Andrew B. Sterling
Leading Actors: Eddie Dowling (Rainbow Ryan), Frankie Darrow (Billy Ryan), Sam Hardy (Doc Hardy), Lloyd Ingraham (Colonel Lane), Marian Nixon (Mary Lane), George Hayes (Bill)
The Rainbow Man is an unusual musical because it was produced by an independent studio, Sono-Art Productions. The company was in business from 1927 until 1933, and in that time produced 60 feature films, including the first Hollywood foreign language film, Sombras de Gloria (1930).The Rainbow Man was their first production.
The film was made at the Metropolitan Studios in Los Angeles, and as reported in The Film Daily (Feb 28, 1929), was one of the first to use the Western Electric sound-on-film process. Sound-on-film was more flexible than recording sound-on-disc, and allowed for better synchronization. The process also made it possible to film dialogue outside.
Another backstage tale, the plot centered around a circus performer, Rainbow Ryan (Eddie Dowling) who takes in the son, Billy (Frankie Darrow), of a fellow performer who tragically dies in an accident. The circus arrives in a small town, and Rainbow falls in love with Mary (Marian Nixon), the daughter of the grouchy hotel proprietor, Colonel Lane (Lloyd Ingram) – who of course hates circus folk. After an upset, Rainbow and Billy are ejected from the circus and end up in New York. Mary finds them, and reveals that her sister was in fact Billy’s mother. Colonel Lane shows up and takes Mary and Billy back home. Rainbow is re-employed by the circus, and ends up back in the small town. Seeing the error of his ways, the Colonel permits Mary and Rainbow to marry.
The film was made at the Metropolitan Studios in Los Angeles, and as reported in The Film Daily (Feb 28, 1929), was one of the first to use the Western Electric sound-on-film process. Sound-on-film was more flexible than recording sound-on-disc, and allowed for better synchronization. The process also made it possible to film dialogue outside.
Another backstage tale, the plot centered around a circus performer, Rainbow Ryan (Eddie Dowling) who takes in the son, Billy (Frankie Darrow), of a fellow performer who tragically dies in an accident. The circus arrives in a small town, and Rainbow falls in love with Mary (Marian Nixon), the daughter of the grouchy hotel proprietor, Colonel Lane (Lloyd Ingram) – who of course hates circus folk. After an upset, Rainbow and Billy are ejected from the circus and end up in New York. Mary finds them, and reveals that her sister was in fact Billy’s mother. Colonel Lane shows up and takes Mary and Billy back home. Rainbow is re-employed by the circus, and ends up back in the small town. Seeing the error of his ways, the Colonel permits Mary and Rainbow to marry.
Originally slated to open at the George M. Cohan Theatre on April 11, The Rainbow Man officially opened at the Selwyn Theatre on April 16. The New York premier was a gala event attended by leading man Eddie Dowling, and the former New York Governor Al Smith (who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1928).
The Film Daily (April 12, 1929) predicted The Rainbow Man would do extremely well, stating “It reeks of big money.” The prediction proved correct, and within days of the successful opening, Paramount announced it would be releasing the film. It was subsequently advertised as a Paramount production, and turned out to be a hot ticket for the studio.
The Film Daily (April 12, 1929) predicted The Rainbow Man would do extremely well, stating “It reeks of big money.” The prediction proved correct, and within days of the successful opening, Paramount announced it would be releasing the film. It was subsequently advertised as a Paramount production, and turned out to be a hot ticket for the studio.
Advertisement in Exhibitors Herald World (April 27, 1929)
Warmly received by audiences and critics alike, it became the first independent film to charge top price, $2, for tickets. As reported in Motion Picture News (April 27, 1929), the film grossed $14,000 across nine performances. Its closest rival, Show Boat grossed $11,000 in eight – however this may have been affected by audiences demanding their money back after they realized they hadn’t paid to see the live stage show!
For the most part, the critics thoroughly enjoyed The Rainbow Man. It even received a glowing rating from the hard-to-please Education Screen. Picture Play Magazine’s review stated “Just a wow – that’s all.” Although Photoplay gave the film a negative review, a reader later wrote “Your criticism of The Rainbow Man is both unjust and ridiculous. The picture is well acted and very entertaining, without one dull moment… To me The Rainbow Man was a real treat.”
While most found the story to be saccharine, the consensus was that it had been well done. The Film Daily (April 14, 1929) stated “here is proof that it is not so much what you do as how you do it. The dialogue is clever, clean and entertaining…[and] directorial touches and treatment some of the best.” The film was described by several critics as charming, human, and touching.
Very few reviews made mention of the music, though the Hollywood Filmograph (June 22, 1929) described the songs as “pleasing,” and The Film Daily (April 14, 1929) stated that the songs had “sure-fire appeal.” The songs included "Little Pal," "Rainbow Man," "Sleepy Valley," and "Tambourine Tune," and were composed by James F. Hanley (who wrote “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart), Jean Herbert, Andrew B. Sterling (who wrote “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis”), and leading man Eddie Dowling.
Most musicals during this period featured a theme song. The theme song was often repeated several times in the film (usually without variation), and used heavily in promotions. It would be played on the radio, and sheet music was made available for purchase. Unusually, The Rainbow Man did not have one.
For the most part, the critics thoroughly enjoyed The Rainbow Man. It even received a glowing rating from the hard-to-please Education Screen. Picture Play Magazine’s review stated “Just a wow – that’s all.” Although Photoplay gave the film a negative review, a reader later wrote “Your criticism of The Rainbow Man is both unjust and ridiculous. The picture is well acted and very entertaining, without one dull moment… To me The Rainbow Man was a real treat.”
While most found the story to be saccharine, the consensus was that it had been well done. The Film Daily (April 14, 1929) stated “here is proof that it is not so much what you do as how you do it. The dialogue is clever, clean and entertaining…[and] directorial touches and treatment some of the best.” The film was described by several critics as charming, human, and touching.
Very few reviews made mention of the music, though the Hollywood Filmograph (June 22, 1929) described the songs as “pleasing,” and The Film Daily (April 14, 1929) stated that the songs had “sure-fire appeal.” The songs included "Little Pal," "Rainbow Man," "Sleepy Valley," and "Tambourine Tune," and were composed by James F. Hanley (who wrote “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart), Jean Herbert, Andrew B. Sterling (who wrote “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis”), and leading man Eddie Dowling.
Most musicals during this period featured a theme song. The theme song was often repeated several times in the film (usually without variation), and used heavily in promotions. It would be played on the radio, and sheet music was made available for purchase. Unusually, The Rainbow Man did not have one.
Frankie Darrow was the critics' favorite. Still from Photoplay (July 1929)
Without question, the unintended star of the film was child actor Frankie Darrow. The Film Daily described him as an “amazing youngster,” and claimed that “young Frankie gives Dowling a close race for first honors.” Motion Picture News called him a “marvel” and Hollywood Filmograph stated “his acting is amazingly expert.”
Born into a circus family, Frankie Darrow (also known as Frankie Darro) started performing at a very young age. As a child actor, he made appearances in many silent films, particularly westerns. He went on to appear in over 150 films and television shows in a career that spanned nearly fifty years. An online biography states Darrow was the male equivalent of Shirley Temple, minus the singing and dancing, but with the same level of charm and lovability. He had a brief romance and engagement with Virginia Gumm, sister to Frances Ethel Gumm – later known as Judy Garland.
Born into a circus family, Frankie Darrow (also known as Frankie Darro) started performing at a very young age. As a child actor, he made appearances in many silent films, particularly westerns. He went on to appear in over 150 films and television shows in a career that spanned nearly fifty years. An online biography states Darrow was the male equivalent of Shirley Temple, minus the singing and dancing, but with the same level of charm and lovability. He had a brief romance and engagement with Virginia Gumm, sister to Frances Ethel Gumm – later known as Judy Garland.
Eddie Dowling and Marian Nixon, Screenland (July 1929)
Eddie Dowling and Marian Nixon also received positive reviews. Picture Play Magazine described Dowling’s performance as unlike anything else audiences had seen or heard – “To me he is far more sympathetic and appealing that the several singing actors who have preceded him… His acting is natural, his singing is “sweet and low” and, oh! What tears there are in his voice!”
Eddie Dowling was an incredibly influential and multi-talented performer who appeared in over thirty Broadway shows. Throughout his forty year career he wrote, composed, directed, and produced for stage and screen. Interestingly, Dowling was one of a few actors filmed for Home Talkie Productions, a short-lived company that produced talkie shorts for home use in 1929! Yep, home theatres were a thing (at least, they were attempting to be a thing) in 1929. MIND. BLOWN. Check out the fascinating history here!
Marian Nixon was praised for her good looks, lovely voice, and charming personality.
The Rainbow Man was her first talkie, and the critics agreed she was well-suited to the medium. One of the few actresses fortunate to survive the transition to talkies, Nixon appeared in seventy-three films in just fifteen years. Other film credits include Say it With Songs (1929), The Show of Shows (1929), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932) and Captain Calamity (1936).
The Rainbow Man didn’t do as well in smaller towns and regional centers, and was even described in some trade publications as flop. This may have been attributable to the fact that Eddie Dowling was not as well-known outside of New York.
Thanks to its general success, Sono-Art produced quickly produced two more musicals, Blaze O’Glory (1929) and The Great Gabbo (1929). Neither was particularly successful, and Sono-Art focused on westerns and documentaries.
Given the fact it was a rare independent film, had no theme song playing on the radio, and its leading actor was a stage star not well-known to moviegoers, The Rainbow Man did surprisingly well at the box office, and is often cited as an important early musical film.
It seems The Rainbow Man shone brightly for a brief moment, and then faded away. It is now considered lost.
Eddie Dowling was an incredibly influential and multi-talented performer who appeared in over thirty Broadway shows. Throughout his forty year career he wrote, composed, directed, and produced for stage and screen. Interestingly, Dowling was one of a few actors filmed for Home Talkie Productions, a short-lived company that produced talkie shorts for home use in 1929! Yep, home theatres were a thing (at least, they were attempting to be a thing) in 1929. MIND. BLOWN. Check out the fascinating history here!
Marian Nixon was praised for her good looks, lovely voice, and charming personality.
The Rainbow Man was her first talkie, and the critics agreed she was well-suited to the medium. One of the few actresses fortunate to survive the transition to talkies, Nixon appeared in seventy-three films in just fifteen years. Other film credits include Say it With Songs (1929), The Show of Shows (1929), Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1932) and Captain Calamity (1936).
The Rainbow Man didn’t do as well in smaller towns and regional centers, and was even described in some trade publications as flop. This may have been attributable to the fact that Eddie Dowling was not as well-known outside of New York.
Thanks to its general success, Sono-Art produced quickly produced two more musicals, Blaze O’Glory (1929) and The Great Gabbo (1929). Neither was particularly successful, and Sono-Art focused on westerns and documentaries.
Given the fact it was a rare independent film, had no theme song playing on the radio, and its leading actor was a stage star not well-known to moviegoers, The Rainbow Man did surprisingly well at the box office, and is often cited as an important early musical film.
It seems The Rainbow Man shone brightly for a brief moment, and then faded away. It is now considered lost.
0 Comments