When It Rains (for Real) on a Studio Backlot


Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanThe Chicago train trestle created for ERHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanDeckard (Harrison Ford) in the pouring rain in Blade Runner (1982); Credit: Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanNew York Street at Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanA view toward New York Street from behind a soaked façadeHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanPouring in Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls; Credit: Warner Bros. TelevisionHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanMidwest Street at Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanGloomy clouds over the Midwest Street town squareHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanMob boss John Rooney (Paul Newman)Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared Cowanis escorted to his car in Road to Perdition.; Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century FoxHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanLooking north on Hennesy Street toward Riverside DriveHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanWater drips from an awning on Hennesy Street.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanPee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens)Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared Cowanscares off gang members in Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985).; Credit: Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanHennesy Street alleywayHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanPee-wee stumbles across Madam Ruby's fortune teller shop.; Credit: Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanMadame Ruby's on Hennesy Street — the bicycle was just a coincidence.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanFrench Street on the Warner Bros. lotHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanFrench StreetHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanIn WWII PolandHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanIn WWII PolandHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanIn WWII PolandHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanIn WWII PolandHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanIn WWII PolandHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanrightHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanrightHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanrightHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanleftHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanProf. Henry Jarrod's (Vincent Price) wax museum burns out of control in House of Wax (1953).; Credit: Warner Bros.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanJarrod's wax museum is seen on the left in this Hennesy Street alleyway.Heavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanA stroll through the backlot on a rainy dayHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanScouting on the backlotHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared CowanProduction trucks parked along New York StreetHeavy rain on Hennesy Street in the climax of Road to Perdition (2002); Credit: DreamWorks/20th Century Fox/Jared Cowan
Recently we roamed Warner Bros.' Burbank backlot on one of the rare, rainy days in L.A. when film and TV crews head inside to cover sets so as not to lose a valuable day's work. The lot's streets, normally bustling with energy, were quiet, except for the sound of the pouring rain hitting the pavement and streams of water rushing into drains. It also became clear that an L.A. rainstorm washes away the artifice of the backlot and suddenly transforms the streets into real but lonely places. Here are our shots from a rainy day at the studio, along with some movies and TV shows that created rain on the famous backlot.

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