Character Relationship Map: The Rainmaker

Characters

• Bill Starbuck (played by Burt Lancaster) — protagonist

  Bill Starbuck is a traveling con man who presents himself as a rainmaker during the Depression. He arrives in the drought-stricken Kansas town promising rain in exchange for money, but his deception i...

• Lizzie Curry (played by Katharine Hepburn) — protagonist

  Lizzie Curry is a single woman who keeps house for H.C. Curry and her two brothers on the family cattle ranch. While drought threatens the ranch, her family focuses on her marriage prospects. She secr...

• Noah Curry (played by Lloyd Bridges) — supporting

  Noah Curry is one of Lizzie Curry's two brothers and a member of the Curry clan living on the family's cattle ranch. The household faces the same devastating drought that is killing the cattle and dam...

• Jim Curry (played by Earl Holliman) — supporting

  Jim Curry is one of Lizzie Curry's two brothers and part of the Curry clan maintaining the family cattle ranch. The drought threatens the household's livelihood and dying cattle, while the family also...

• H.C. Curry (played by Cameron Prud'Homme) — supporting

  H.C. Curry is Lizzie Curry's father and the head of the family connected to the drought-stricken cattle ranch. Though he believes Bill Starbuck is a con man, desperation for rain leads him to accept S...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Noah Curry → Jim Curry (Family Brothers) — Noah and Jim are brothers in the Curry family.

  The character profiles identify Noah and Jim as Lizzie's two brothers.

• H.C. Curry → Jim Curry (Family Members) — They are members of the Curry family sharing the ranch's drought-related difficulties.

  The plot places Jim in the Curry family household, and the character profiles identify H.C. as the head of the family.

• H.C. Curry → Noah Curry (Family Members) — They belong to the Curry family facing the drought and the threatened cattle.

  The plot places Noah in the Curry family household with Lizzie and her brothers, while the character profiles identify H.C. as the family's father and...

• H.C. Curry → Lizzie Curry (Family Father And Daughter) — H.C. is Lizzie's father and part of the family facing the drought's threat to its ranch.

  The character profile identifies H.C. Curry as Lizzie's father. The plot describes Lizzie as part of the Curry family, whose ranch is threatened by dr...

• Lizzie Curry → Jim Curry (Family Siblings) — Their family relationship includes an earlier disagreement about Jim's eye.

  The plot identifies Jim as Lizzie's brother and describes tension involving him, including an earlier disagreement about his eye.

• Lizzie Curry → Noah Curry (Family Siblings) — They are siblings who share concern about Bill's offer, though Noah accepts the rain deal while Lizzie objects.

  The plot identifies Noah as one of Lizzie's brothers and says that Lizzie and Noah suspect Bill is a liar and a con man.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Bill Starbuck → Noah Curry (Conflict Rainmaker And Skeptical Customer) — Noah doubts Bill's claims but accepts his rainmaking offer because the drought threatens the cattle.

  Noah and Lizzie suspect Bill is a liar and a con man, but Noah eventually accepts Bill's $100 offer to bring rain as a gamble for the cattle.

• Bill Starbuck → Lizzie Curry (Narrative Emotional Catalyst) — Bill's attention and encouragement challenge Lizzie's negative self-image and begin a personal change in how she sees herself.

  Bill urges Lizzie to look within rather than trust Noah's judgment and helps her say aloud that she is pretty. The moment moves her deeply, and she be...

Story Analysis

A drought-stricken family's hopes and insecurities are unsettled by a persuasive traveling rainmaker, while the available account leaves the promised rain unresolved.

Plot Progression

1. The Dry Ranch and a Traveling Seller — Drought threatens the Curry family's land and cattle as Bill arrives in town selling supposed tornado rods. His dramatic sales manner leaves him seeming entertaining but unreliable.
2. A Gamble for Rain — Bill offers to bring rain for $100. Noah accepts the offer as a gamble in hopes of saving the cattle, while Lizzie objects and suspects Bill is a con man.
3. Lizzie Sees Herself Differently — Lizzie admits that she feels plain and imagines becoming someone else. Bill urges her to look within and helps her voice a more positive view of herself.
4. Family Tensions and Unanswered Outcomes — The account includes File's reluctance to become attached to another dog and mentions family tension involving Jim. Jim later returns after midnight with an expensive cigar, while the rain deal and it...