Educating Rita (1983)

In London, twenty-seven year-old hairdresser Rita decides to complete her basic education before having children as desired by her husband Denny. She joins a literature course in an open ... See full summary »

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 London, twenty-seven year-old hairdresser Rita decides to complete her basic education before having children as desired by her husband Denny. She joins a literature course in an open university and is tutored by the middle-aged Dr. Frank Bryant, an alcoholic and debauched professor from the upper-class whose life has left him emotionally drained, without self-esteem. Frank lives with Julia, who's also a professor, and have a loveless marriage; Julia has a love affair with the Dean Brian. Rivals 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:

professor | open university | hairdresser | teaching | essay writing | 

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Taglines:

Frank Bryant is a professor of literature. And Rita is his newest student. A hairdresser who thinks Macbeth runs the local pub. And Hamlet is a plate of eggs with cheese. He's a failed writer who has given up on his life. She's determined to change hers by getting an education. And the more she loves to learn. The more he learns how to love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Educando a 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 (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First of two major British movies of the 1980s, both comedy-dramas, that featured the name "Rita" in the title. This movie was the first, and Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987) was the second. Ironically, Susan (a name which can be abbreviated as Sue), is Rita's real first name in this movie.

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Goofs

O.U. students do not enjoy one to one tutorials with a professor.

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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 Miss Congeniality (2000)

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Soundtracks

Wedding March
(uncredited)
Written by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy

User Reviews

Moving but never sentimental

'Educating Rita' is one of those films that, unfortunately, most people will never see. A lack of recognition in Britain is most likely to blame, along with the audacity to step outside the typical idea of British-films-made-for-the-US. If you do get the chance to see this film, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

It's a film that will certainly pull at your heartstrings, but never actually gets soppy or acknowledges what the audience feels. The two leads, (played brilliantly by Michael Caine and Julie Walters) are both trapped within two very different worlds. Walters - as hairdresser/student Susan/Rita - is suffering a life of bland working-class domesticity in 1980s Liverpool, unwilling to have a child until she better understands herself. Caine - as university professor Frank - is disillusioned with the academic life, surrounded by pretentious students and constantly dependent on alcohol to see him through the day. This could so easily have been turned into a cheesy love-fest, in which both characters fall head over heels for each other and face their troubles neatly and quickly in order to dash off into a new life together. Thankfully, Willy Russell is made of stronger stuff and delivers a story that is witty, clever and poignant without ever going cold.