Audrey the Rainmaker (1951) User Reviews

Rain, Rain, Go Away

[boblipton · 6/10 · 16 November 2013]

This is one of a series of big fantasy cartoons starring Little Audrey. Like THE LOST DREAM and THE SEAPREME COURT, it is couched as a dream fantasy. Audrey is stuck inside while it rains and wishes that it would never rain again. In her dream, it does and she has to go to see the Rain Maker to fix the problem.

It's well done and the gags are well constructed, as one would expect from Famous Studios in this period. However, I find these Big Fantasy Little Audreys a bit creepy and this one in particular. I don't doubt it was deliberate and in some ways I find it appropriate. while in other ways. it repulses me. Credit Jackson Beck in a very fine voice role as the jovial but uncaring Rain Maker.

Little Audrey and the Rainmaker

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 21 January 2017]

As far as Little Audrey cartoons go, 'Audrey the Rainmaker' is not quite as good as 'Butterscotch and Soda' and 'Song of the Birds' in particular. It is however better than the previous cartoon 'Hold the Lion Please', which was cute but a bit bland.

The story, often the case with the Little Audrey cartoon, is very slight and it is not hard to figure out what happens or what the outcome is. 'Audrey the Rainmaker' makes a welcome return to the "dream forming the basis of the story" concept, and while it does a good job the other dream-based Little Audrey cartoons have slightly more inventive ideas.

However, as is the case with many Little Audrey cartoons it has the right amount of confectionery sweetness without feeling too sugary or making one sick, and has a lot of charm. This is the same for Little Audrey herself, an adorable and charming character that falls on the right side of sweet thankfully and not only learns from her mistake here but goes to great lengths to put things right.

Furthermore, the animation is rich and colourful, with very meticulous and beautifully drawn backgrounds and well-rendered character designs that don't look too stiff. Winston Sharples provides yet another outstanding music score, even in mediocre or worse cartoons Sharples' music was never among the flaws (if anything always one of the strengths or the best asset).

Also love the lusciousness of the orchestration here and how characterful and whimsical the music was without going overboard in either, even better was how well it fitted in the cartoon and how it merged with the action. The main song is very infectious too.

Plenty of amusement and beautifully timed gags here, as well as some good visual imagination. There were some nice ideas that will delight children and also hold interest for adults as long as not too much is demanded. Everything here has the right amount of sweetness without being too sugary or making one queasy with sickness, and in some places it's even quite touching. The Rainmaker is a suitably jovial character, while also suitably indifferent and then relenting. The voice work from Mae Questel and Jackson Beck is very good.

Overall, very nice Little Audrey cartoon if not one of my favourites. 8/10 Bethany Cox