Black Rainbow (1989)

A christian medium sees a vision of a hitman killing his target. The vision turns true, and the same hitman is assigned to kill her. Her drunk father/manager doesn't believe she got the gift, and a curious journalist tries to protect her.

Director:

Mike Hodges

Writer:

Mike Hodges

Stars:

Rosanna Arquette, Jason Robards, Tom Hulce

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rosanna Arquette	...	Martha Travis
Jason Robards	...	Walter Travis
Tom Hulce	...	Gary Wallace
Mark Joy	...	Lloyd Harley
Ron Rosenthal	...	Lieutenant Irving Weinberg
John Bennes	...	Ted Silas
Linda Pierce	...	Mary Kuron
Olek Krupa	...	Tom Kuron
Marty Terry	...	Mrs. Adams
Ed Grady	...	Editor, Geoff McBain (as Ed L. Grady)
Jon Thompson	...	Jack Callow
Helen Baldwin	...	Eva Callow
Darla N. Warner	...	Shirley Harley
Christopher L. Gray	...	Choirmaster
Lucy Williams	...	Choirlady

Storyline

Martha Travis is a medium who makes contact with spirits "on the other side" and connects them with their loved ones still alive, in public performances. Trouble begins when she gives a message to Mary Kuron from her husband, Tom. But Tom isn't dead - yet. And Martha not only knows he will die, she also knows who killed him. And the murderer knows she knows. Her exploitative elderly alcoholic father and manager, Walter Travis, and Gary Wallace, a skeptical investigative reporter fascinated by the story who eventually falls for Martha, try to protect her, and so does the skeptical police - or do they.

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Plot Keywords:

topless female nudity | bare breasts | wobbling breasts | sex scene | garter belt | 

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Taglines:

She can see the killer's face. She knows the victim's name. The only thing she doesn't know ... is when the murder will take place.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a way, this is a spiritual sequel to one of director Mike Hodges' previous films, the 1985 HBO drama W.G.O.D. that takes a skeptical look at fundamentalist preachers.

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Quotes

Railroad Steward: Breakfast
[first lines]
Walter Travis: I just had it... it's medicinal
Railroad Steward: For your liver?
Walter Travis: For my soul

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Connections

Features White Heat (1949)

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Soundtracks

HE'S SO WONDERFUL
Lyrics by Barry Mason
Composed by Christopher L. Gray
Performed by Lucy Williams

User Reviews

Very intelligent film, made by Mike Hodges

Black Rainbow is like most of Mike Hodges films: Get Carter, Croupier and Terminal Man, very intelligent. It is great performance by

Rosanna Arquette best ever. Also Jason Robards and Tom Hulce are also good.

I doesn't rely on special effects to tell a story. It is more or less dealing with whether or not (Martha Travis) Rosanna Arquette is telling the truth. What I found interesting is how Hodges creates a psychological atmosphere on what would happen if someone with that psychic power tells you somebody close to you is dead. That is more disturbing than any special effect.

It is a shame Black Rainbow didn't get a proper cinema release. According to Mike Hodges on the DVD commentary of Black Rainbow, both the distributors Palace Pictures (UK) & Miramax (USA) were both suffering financially. Palace Pictures only released the in minimum cinemas, because they were on the verge of getting bankrupt. Miramax decided to release it straight to television.

My opinion is this is great film and should get a chance, any interested in this film, its out on DVD on Anchor Bay on Region 2

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 December 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Rainbow

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goldcrest Films International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1