Raintree County 1957 Instant

Raintree County (1957) is a massive, three-hour Civil War epic that attempted to capture the lightning-in-a-bottle success of Gone with the Wind . While it is celebrated for its visual grandeur and the chemistry of its leads, it is perhaps most famous for the harrowing off-screen tragedy involving its star, Montgomery Clift.

When the Civil War erupts, John enlists in the Union Army, partially to search for Susanna after she flees South with their young son. The film concludes with a tragic search in the Indiana swamp, where the elusive raintree is finally glimpsed. Cast & Crew Raintree County 1957

John is torn between his childhood sweetheart, Nell Gaither (Eva Marie Saint), and Susanna Drake (Elizabeth Taylor), a wealthy, captivating Southern belle from New Orleans. Raintree County (1957) is a massive, three-hour Civil

Susanna tricks John into marriage by falsely claiming she is pregnant. As they move between Indiana and New Orleans, Susanna’s mental health deteriorates, haunted by secrets regarding her family and a tragic fire from her childhood. The film concludes with a tragic search in

Set in 1859, the story follows (Montgomery Clift), an idealistic student in Indiana obsessed with finding a legendary "raintree" that supposedly grants all of life's answers.

With an estimated cost of $5 million , it was the most expensive film MGM had produced up to that point. Despite being a box office success, its massive costs meant it struggled to turn a profit.