 He returned to New York City in 1927 and appeared in nearly 20 Broadway roles, in plays which included George Bernard Shaw's "The Apple Cart" and dramatisations of "The Constant Nymph" and Pearl S. Buck's novel "The Good Earth" (as a Chinese farmer).Although he had played the single supporting role in the silent, "Build Thy House" (1920), Rains came relatively late to film acting.While working for the Theatre Guild, he was offered a screen test with Universal Pictures in 1932.