Educating Rita (1983)

An alcoholic professor has been hired by a working-class girl for higher education.

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Willy Russell (screenplay), Willy Russell (stage play)

Stars:

Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael Williams

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Frank Bryant
Julie Walters	...	Rita
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 Hurd-Wood	...	Tiger (as Philip Hurdwood)
Hilary Reynolds	...	Lesley
Jack Walsh	...	Price
Christopher Casson	...	Professor
Rosamund Burton	...	Denise

Storyline

In Liverpool, twenty-seven-year-old hairdresser Rita (Dame Julie Walters) decides to complete her basic education before having children, as desired by her husband Denny (Malcolm Douglas). She joins a literature course in an open university and is tutored by the middle-aged Dr. Frank Bryant (Sir Michael Caine), an alcoholic and debauched professor from the upper-class, whose life has left him emotionally drained, without self-esteem. Frank lives with Julia (Jeananne Crowley), who's also a professor, and has a loveless marriage. Julia has a love affair with Dean Brian (Michael Williams). Rita's humor and determination to improve herself is contagious. She gives motivation to Frank, who helps prepare her for the exams to join the university, and be able to leave Denny. Will she succeed in the exams?

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Plot Keywords:

essay writing | university lecturer | alcoholism | troubled marriage | teacher student relationship | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes students end up being the best teachers.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank, surprised at Rita's new personality when he picks her up at the train station, says: "My God, what is this vision I see before me?" That's a reference to the line "Is this a dagger which I see before me?" from Macbeth, which is Rita's favorite play.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

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

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Alternate Versions

In a version screened on British TV in the '80s and '90s, Frank tells the imaginary Morgan to 'p*** off', not 'f*** off'; Michael Caine's voice is quite badly dubbed.

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Connections

Referenced in Who's the Boss?: Educating Tony (1986)

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Soundtracks

Wedding March
(uncredited)
Written by Felix Mendelssohn

User Reviews

Heart-warming and funny drama

Michael Caine and TV favourite Julie Walters shine wonderfully in this film, which tells the story of 26-year-old Rita (Walters) wanting to discover herself by attending the Open University, where alcohol dependant Dr. Frank Bryant (Caine) is a teacher.

The movie follows these two main characters change and reevaluate their lives for the better through each other. Caine and Walters' chemistry is simply divine, and Maureen Lipman also makes an appearance as over the top and eccentric Trish, who on the outside, is this confident, bubbly woman, but on the inside is hurting badly because of her fears of being alone.

Both Caine and Walters won Best Actor and Best Actress awards for their performances (at the BAFTAs), and the movie itself won Best Film in 1984, and one look at Educating Rita tells you why. It's a film that's simply full of warmth and charm.

A strong British film and the perfect debut for the now legendary Julie Walters.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Educating Rita

Filming Locations:

8 Hogan Avenue, South Lotts, Ringsend, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$73,518, 25 September 1983

Gross USA:

$14,648,076

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,648,076

Company Credits

Production Co:

Acorn Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1