Rain Man (1988) – Family Is Everything

The Rain Man (1988) is a movie that has captured and held viewers’ attention for almost 40 years. This heart-warming story makes us laugh before bringing tears to our eyes when we discover the “Rain Man” meaning. Read our review to learn more about Charlie and Raymond’s road trip, their casino visit, and other adventures.

Besides the Rain Man movie plot and gambling scene, you will find interesting information about the film sets, awards, Rain Man cast, and more details in this article. The element below holds the main sections of the article. Jump to either section of the paragraphs or read line by line from top to bottom. Don’t miss reading the interesting Q&A section at the end.

Rain Man Movie Plot

Rain Man begins with Charlie (Tom Cruise) receiving the news of his father’s death. He leaves his troublesome business and heads to receive the family’s estate. The next blow comes from the will executor John Mooney (Jack Murdock), who informs Charlie that the entire estate of $3,000,000 is left to a brother Charlie never knew he had – Raymond (Dustin Hoffman).

• Charlie: When I was a little kid, and I got scared, the Rain Man would come and sing to me.
• Susanna: Rain, what?
• Charlie: Oh, you know, one of those imaginary childhood friends.
• Susanna: What happened to him?
• Charlie: Nothing, I just grew up.

Rain Man (1988)

Raymond is a Savant syndrome autist, living in a mental institution. His closest people are Dr Bruner (Gerald R. Molen) and the caretaker Vern (Michael D. Roberts). When Charlie sees his brother’s condition, he decides to gain custody over Raymond and the money. He kidnaps Raymond and heads to Los Angeles, where he intends to put his brother in another institution and get the money for himself.

Along the way, Charlie has to deal with Raymond’s strange and sometimes uncontrollable behaviour. They deal with daily situations and people in a unique way, which delivers quotes like Raymond’s (Rain Man) “I’m an excellent driver”. Undoubtedly, one of the most touching scenes in the movie is discovering the “Rain Man” meaning and its story. The movie takes us from heart-breaking conversations to funny situations like:

• Charlie: Hey, Ray, you take a shower, right?
• Raymond: Yeah.
• Charlie: Well, the rain is a lot like the shower. You get a little wet. What do you say, Ray? What do you say?
• Raymond: Of course, the shower is in the bathroom.
• Charlie: That’s the end of that conversation.

Rain Man (1988): It’s raining, and Raymond doesn’t want to go out.

Charlie’s girlfriend, Susanna (Valeria Golino), joins them on their trip and visit to Las Vegas casinos. Without realising it, Charlie had got so attached to his brother that in the end, he did not wish to separate from Raymond. Their trip takes a turn, and new decisions follow, but we can’t miss one of the great Rain Man quotes showing a true family connection:

Charlie: What you have to understand is, four days ago he was only my brother in name. And this morning, we had pancakes. Rain Man (1988)

Rain Man Las Vegas Casino Gambling Scene

The Rain Man film casino scene is one of the iconic movie moments recreated in other films and TV series. For example, in the Hangover (2009), the guys imitate Raymond and Charlie’s descent with the escalator in matching suits and serious faces.

The Rain Man card counting scene is a great way to show the incredible minds of the people with Savant syndrome. Raymond easily counts the cards, and Charlie makes the bets. Rain Man blackjack scenes are also shown in the Hangover (2009), where Allen wins again by counting cards. If you like this topic, our MIT Blackjack Team article may be interesting to you.

The “Rain Man” casino adventures end with a prize of over $80,000. Their exceptional luck is noticed, and the security asks them to leave. Despite the fast end to the winning streak, Charlie and Raymond celebrate Raymond’s incredible skills. If you feel inspired to try your luck like them, but can’t afford a visit to Las Vegas, the top US online casinos are a great alternative to consider.

Rain Man Movie Details

The movie “Rain Man” has become a hit ever since the day it was released. The excellent selection of the cast and the expert work of the entire crew resulted in a story that moves generations of viewers. Seeing two completely brothers (Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman) getting to know each other over a road trip is always an interesting subject explored in many movies.

In this story, the brothers can’t be more different because one of them is a fast-talking sports cars dealer and the other is an autist. It might be interesting to learn that the Rain Man Savant syndrome portrayed in the movie created a movement of awareness of this mental disability. We will return to the topic later in the article, but now, we will turn your attention to the film details.

Rain Man debuted at theatres in December 1988 and quickly gained popularity. The movie is a hit even today, and we can see it next to the best gambling movies on Netflix, on TV, and online. The conversations between the two brothers unfold the dark secrets of the past and the “Rain Man” meaning. Their encounter with people and daily situations makes us think about our behaviour.

The brothers’ visit to a Las Vegas casino where they count cards at blackjack tables, and the excellent portrayal of the Savant disorder are the reasons this movie is memorable. Many other films and TV shows reference the Rain Man Las Vegas trip and Raymond’s behaviour. Excellent examples are Miss Congeniality (2000), 21 (2008), The Hangover (2009), and more.

Is Rain Man Based On True Story?

We will tell you immediately that “Rain Man” is not a true story. The screenwriter, Barry Morrow, was inspired by real-life people with autism. Barry Morrow met Kim Peek, who had incredibly fast reading and memory skills. He became the inspiration for the Rain Man Savant character Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). Unlike the movie character, Kim denied counting cards at a casino because “it would not be fair”.

Rain Man Cast

In Rain Man (1988), we can see the well-known faces of amazing actors. The director, Barry Levinson, entrusted the main roles to a Hollywood veteran Dustin Hoffman, and the aspiring young actor Tom Cruise. Here are some interesting details about the cast:

While preparing for the role of Raymond, Dustin Hoffman studied Savant Syndrome and Autism disorders. He even met five people with the same syndrome. His experience as a worker at a psychiatric care home in his youth was also useful for the correct portrayal of his character. Hoffman is also known for Tootsie (1982), the Death of a Salesman (1985), Sleepers (1996), Kung Fu Panda (2008, 2011, 2016), and more memorable roles.

The Mission: Impossible star, Tom Cruise, is in the role of Charlie Babbitt – a sports car wheeler-dealer with a passion for money. We see how Charlie transforms from a money chaser to a loving brother throughout the entire movie. This is one of Tom Cruise’s most iconic roles alongside Risky Business (1983), Top Gun (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), A Few Good Men (1993), Interview with a Vampire (1994), and many more blockbusters.

In Rain Man, Valeria Golino is Charlie Babbitt’s girlfriend Susanna. Her appearance is a gentle touch, sober mind, and a balancing line between the two brothers with completely different personalities. Valeria Golino is also known for An Italian Name (2015), Hot Shots (1991, 1993), and more movies.

It is fair to consider the 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible as part of the cast because most of the action took part in it. Two identical cars were used in the filming process. One was modified to hold the cameras and the operator, while the other was used in the full car shots. After the filming was completed, Hoffman acquired and restored the unmodified car, kept it in his collection for 34 years, and sold it in 2022. Barry Levinson bought the camera-carrying car.

The movie has three people and a car in the story’s centre, but they are more than enough to tell the fascinating story. Even so, the secondary and support roles are also entrusted to professionals such as Gerald R. Molen (Dr Bruner), Jack Murdock (John Mooney, Will Executor), Michael D. Roberts (Vern), and more. This constellation of diverse characters delivers unforgettable Rain Man quotes that make us laugh and cry.

Rain Man Film Locations

Most of Rain Man (1988) was filmed in the convertible Buick, but there are also some amazing locations. Their trip across the country begins at Cincinnati and ends at Los Angeles. The movie shows different locations in Indiana, Newport, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The roadside sceneries are an extra perk to the viewers’ eyes.

This might be news to you, but Rain Man is one of the first movies to film at a real casino with real players. The card counting scene and the stay happened in the exquisite Caesars’ Palace. If you are wondering what other hotels there might be in Sin City, our Las Vegas Strip map article might be of use.

Rain Man’s 26 Awards & 23 Nominations

The Rain Man cast, crew, and touching stories brought 26 awards, out of which 4 Oscars. This ranks the movie next to other all-time gambling movie classics like The Sting (1973) with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, which got 18 awards in total out of which 7 Oscars.

Rain Man ultimately swept the awards season, receiving awards in all the major categories. Here are the Rain Man awards (no nominations):

Undoubtedly, the most noticeable awards on the list are the Rain Man Oscars and Rain Man music awards. Another astonishing award is the Golden Bear from Belin International Film Festival because it is granted only to movies who had won in Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. In 2022, the movie Rain Man (1988) is the first and so far only film to win both Oscar and Golden Bear for Best Picture.

Rain Man (1988) Interesting Questions

The movie Rain Man (1988) is one of the iconic reels every person needs to see. In our article, we told you about the adventures of the two brothers Raymond and Charlie and added details about the movie. Now is the time to answer several interesting Rain Man movie questions:

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