Who'll Stop the Rain 1978
"A week ago they were strangers. An hour ago they were lovers. Now they are targets."
Karel Reisz's gritty Vietnam-era crime drama *Who'll Stop the Rain* (1978) plunges viewers into the moral decay of a war correspondent's double life.
Director: Karel Reisz
Cast
Nick Nolte
Ray Hicks
Tuesday Weld
Marge Converse
Michael Moriarty
John Converse
Anthony Zerbe
Antheil
Richard Masur
Danskin
Ray Sharkey
Smitty
Gail Strickland
Charmian
Charles Haid
Eddie Peace
David Opatoshu
Bender
Joaquín Martínez
Angel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) about?
The film follows John, a disillusioned Vietnam War journalist who turns to heroin smuggling, dragging his friend Ray into a high-stakes operation. When things go wrong, Ray finds himself on the run with John's wife, hunted by corrupt narcotics agents.
Who directed Who'll Stop the Rain?
Karel Reisz, the acclaimed British director behind *The French Lieutenant's Woman*, helmed this intense crime drama.
Who stars in Who'll Stop the Rain?
The film features Nick Nolte, Michael Moriarty, Tuesday Weld, Anthony Zerbe, and Richard Masur in a gripping ensemble cast.
Is Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) worth watching?
With its sharp performances, realistic action, and themes of moral decay, *Who'll Stop the Rain* is a standout in 1970s crime dramas. While not a blockbuster, it offers a compelling snapshot of post-Vietnam America.
How long is Who'll Stop the Rain?
The film runs for 126 minutes (2 hours and 6 minutes).
🎥 Trailer
About Who'll Stop the Rain (1978) — A Vietnam Vet's Descent into Crime and Chaos
Karel Reisz's gritty Vietnam-era crime drama *Who'll Stop the Rain* (1978) plunges viewers into the moral decay of a war correspondent's double life. Nick Nolte stars as John, a battle-weary journalist who trades his pen for a heroin smuggling operation, enlisting Ray (Michael Moriarty), a fellow veteran, to transport the drugs to his wife back home. Their fragile alliance shatters when Ray becomes entangled in a deadly chase with corrupt narcotics agents, forcing him to rely on John's wife (Tuesday Weld) for survival. The film blends raw action with a haunting meditation on betrayal, survival, and the cost of disillusionment.
Set against the backdrop of post-war America, *Who'll Stop the Rain* (1978) captures the tension of a nation struggling to heal. Reisz's direction infuses the narrative with a documentary-like realism, while the stellar cast—including Anthony Zerbe and Richard Masur—delivers performances that cut deep. This is a film about broken men, impossible choices, and the relentless pursuit of redemption in a world that offers none.
