A Hatful of Rain (1957)

Set against the gritty backdrop of New York's inner city, war veteran Johnny Pope and his younger brother Polo Pope share a humble existence. They live with Johnny's wife, Celia Pope, who is expectantly carrying their first child. The bond between the brothers is strained as Polo harbors a concealed longing for Celia, a secret made all the more intricate by Johnny's frequent, unexplained absences and his cold indifference towards his wife and unborn child. Polo, with his limited education, is the family's main earner, working as a bouncer at a rundown bar. Meanwhile, Johnny, in an untold reality, has lost four jobs in three months. Celia, still deeply in love with Johnny, struggles with despair and loneliness, often finding herself drawn toward Polo. The family dynamics take a further hit with the arrival of John Sr., the brothers' estranged father, from Palm Beach. John Sr.'s visit, his first since Johnny and Celia's wedding, is not a mere social call but a pursuit of $2,500 that Polo had once promised him for his retirement plans. However, the money is long gone, causing further tension as Polo falls deeper into John Sr.'s disfavor. As the plot unfurls, it reveals the root of the family's turmoil - a secret held by Johnny, known only to Polo. Johnny is shackled by a desperate addiction to morphine, a vice he acquired during his hospital stay at the end of his military service. Polo's promised $2,500 was spent to feed Johnny's addiction, leaving Johnny indebted to "Mother," his primary dealer, who walks the tightrope between extracting payment and keeping Johnny ensnared in his lucrative web of addiction. The story of "A Hatful of Rain" is a poignant exploration of the shadows that secrets can cast over a family, the relentless grip of addiction, and the complex dynamics of love and loyalty.

A Hatful of Rain is a drama movie featuring Eva Marie Saint and directed by Fred Zinnemann.

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