Educating Rita (1983)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Willy Russell (play)
Willy Russell (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy about a teacher and a very memorable student [Video Australia]

Plot:

A young wife decides to complete her education and take her exams. She meets a professor who teaches...

Plot Keywords:

Liverpool | Adultery | Waitress | Human Relationship | Teaching

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Dr. Frank Bryant
Julie Walters	...	Rita, aka Susan
Michael Williams	...	Brian
Maureen Lipman	...	Trish
Jeananne Crowley	...	Julia
Malcolm Douglas	...	Denny
Godfrey Quigley	...	Rita's Father
Dearbhla Molloy	...	Elaine
Patrick Daly	...	Bursar (as Pat Daly)
Kim Fortune	...	Collins
Philip Hurdwood	...	Tiger
Hilary Reynolds	...	Lesley
Jack Walsh	...	Price
Christopher Casson	...	Professor
Rosamund Burton	...	Denise

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Belfield Campus, University College, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Acorn Pictures

Trivia:

When Frank is drunk in the lecture hall, he says, "Not many people know that." This not only became a familiar catchphrase for Michael Caine but also the title of a best-selling collection of trivia anecdotes, which Caine compiled in book form for the National Playing Fields Association charity in 1984.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rita first enters her shared flat, a record is playing on the turntable. The needle is extremely close to the end of the record, yet the song continues playing in the background for at least another two minutes with no sign of stopping.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Frank walks on campus and addresses some students]
Dr. Frank Bryant: Good afternoon.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Best! Movies! Ever!: Hot for Teacher (#1.21)" (2007)

Another song to sing!

I remember when I first saw this film many years ago on television. I always feel like I'm returning home to those memories after twenty years. I love Julie Walters as Rita/Susan in the film, a hairdresser who aspires to become an intellectual. At first, she is not your typical college student. She is older, married, and not ready to have children with her husband. She seeks better. I remember how she nearly gave up when he invites her to dinner because she thought that she brought an inappropriate bottle of wine or champagne to her teacher's house. Anyway, her performance sparkles with sheer delight and Rita/Susan becomes an endearing character who has not forgotten her roots or her future. Anyway, she leaves the party without even going in afraid of being laughed at by the snobbery bunch of college intellectuals. Anyway, she goes to the bar where her family is and they're singing this ridiculous song "I'm so happy that you're so happy" and she witnesses her own mother crying and saying that they're must be a better song to sing and she decides to come back to class not that she is not met with pleasure by her own husband. He seems content with a home, wife, and child rather than his wife going out and becoming smarter and alive. Julie does a fantastic job at bringing her to life that you just can't imagine another person in this role. Anyway, Sir Michael Caine plays the drunken lost college professor who learns from his student, Rita/Susan as well. Michael Williams also has a role but you might know him better as being the husband to Dame Judi Dench. Anyway, the relationship between student and teacher despite a small age difference could have gone further and I wished it had but the movie does have a satisfying ending which is why I am giving it a 9 and not a ten. Anyway, the chemistry is there. Watching pros like Walters and Caine engage in conversation is worth watching again and again. Rita/Susan becomes who she wanted to be and that is an independent woman.