6.5/10
1,135
12 user 20 critic

The Rainbow (1989)

R | | Action, Drama, Romance | 26 May 1989 (USA)
The Rainbow Poster
A young woman deals in her own personal way with the trials of adolescence and young adulthood in early 1900s England.

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Ken Russell (screenplay), Vivian Russell (screenplay) | 1 more credit »

Stars:

Sammi Davis, Amanda Donohoe, Paul McGann | See full cast & crew »
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1 nomination. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sammi Davis ... Ursula Brangwen
Paul McGann ... Anton Skrebensky
Amanda Donohoe ... Winifred Inger
Christopher Gable Christopher Gable ... Will Brangwen
David Hemmings ... Uncle Henry
Glenda Jackson ... Anna Brangwen
Dudley Sutton ... MacAllister
Jim Carter ... Mr. Harby
Judith Paris ... Miss Harby
Kenneth Colley ... Mr. Brunt (as Ken Colley)
Glenda McKay Glenda McKay ... Gudrun Brangwen
Mark Owen Mark Owen ... Jim Richards
Ralph Nossek Ralph Nossek ... Vicar
Nicola Stephenson ... Ethel
Molly Russell Molly Russell ... Molly Brangwen
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Ken Russell's loose adaptation of the last part of D.H. Lawrence's "The Rainbow" sees impulsive young Ursula coming of age in pastoral England around the time of the Boer War. At school, she is introduced to lovemaking by a bisexual physical education instructress. While experiencing disillusionment in her first career attempt (teaching), she has an affair with a young Army officer, who wants to marry her. Unable to accept a future of domesticity, she breaks with him, and eventually leaves home in search of her destiny. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

coming of age | loss of virginity | women's rights | women's emancipation | victorian era | See All (227) »

Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 May 1989 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

El arco iris See more »

Filming Locations:

Borrowdale, Lake District, Cumbria, England, UK See more »
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Box Office

Gross USA:

$444,055
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vestron Pictures See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's closing credits declare that the movie was "filmed entirely on location in England". See more »

Connections

Follows Women in Love (1969) See more »

Soundtracks

Sheep May Safely Graze
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
See more »

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User Reviews

This is a great movie! Why the bad reviews?
18 October 2003 | by enthusiast – See all my reviews

Why do some reviewers think this is a bad movie? There is nothing bad about it at all; unless you are some exceptional prude. Both Sammi Davis and Amanda Donahoe give outstanding performances. The chemistry between the two that was just glimpsed in "The Lair of the White Worm" comes to a beautiful frutation in this movie. That said, it should be noted that females have the primary roles in this movie unlike in "Lair" where Hugh Grant upstaged Amanda and drove Sammi into a virtually insignificant role. Perhaps that is the reason; movies that have women as leads are boycotted by the male audience.

Regardless of why, this movie got a lot less credit than it deserved. I hope it comes out on DVD in the near future.
14 of 21 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
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