Nov. 27, 1963 - Opening today is “Soldier in the Rain,” a comedy directed by Ralph Nelson and starring Jackie Gleason as Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter and Steve McQueen as Sergeant Eustis Clay. Tuesday Weld portrays Sergeant Slaughter’s romantic partner. Produced by Martin Jurow and co-written by Maurice Richlin and Blake Edwards, the screenplay is based upon a 1960 novel of the same name by William Goldman. Goldman drew upon his experience of being in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. The film deals with the bond of friendship between the worldly-wise Slaughter and Sergeant Clay, his naive worshiper.
