Soldier in the Rain is a 1963 American comedy buddy film directed by Ralph Nelson and starring Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen.

He is a personal favorite of Master Sergeant Maxwell Slaughter, a career soldier who is considerably brighter than Eustis, but enjoys his company and loyalty.

Slaughter is wired into all the perks, back channels and supply sources an Army base can provide, and they all filter through his nearly autonomous cabin hub.

Clay becomes involved in a number of schemes and scams, including one in which he will sell tickets for soldiers to watch Private Jerry Meltzer purportedly run a three-minute mile.

Determined to tempt Slaughter with the joys of civilian life before his hitch is up, Clay fixes him up on a date with a much younger woman, not-too-bright Bobby Jo Pepperdine.

A pair of hated rivals use their status as military policemen to lure Clay into a barroom brawl, where he is being beaten two-against-one before Slaughter angrily comes to his rescue.

Hospitalized, Slaughter delights Clay by suggesting they leave the Army together and go live on a tropical isle, surrounded by blue seas and beautiful girls.

A buddy picture set in the peacetime Army, Soldier is concerned with how a strong friendship can develop between two people of differing personalities and aims.

Blake Edwards and Maurice Richlin have done an excellent job of adapting William Goldman's novel, and together with director Ralph Nelson have opted to emphasize the character aspects of the material over the plot.