_Under the Rainbow_ is a chilling look at human mistakes and the domination of fear. The unstable factor is Jacob Rainwater, a brilliant, isolated, and ultimately cruel individual with a curiosity that causes him to be misunderstood and feared. Eventually this fear develops into good reason, as he withholds important information that would lead to the survival of the crew.
Things seem fairly normal as the crew talks about their hopes as they reach Earth, like mission specifics and the "telemovies" that they have watched. Soon art reflects life as we see difficulty in the marriage of Stuart and Diane. Tino and Mary-Beth vowed to continue going together until the filming ended, and it did last a bit longer, but eventually broke up. Their relationship, however, had nothing to do with them being cast as husband and wife. After the final course correction fails, Stuart, as, admittedly, the most expendable member of the crew, the captain, must sacrifice his life, which he had wanted to spend as an antique dealer with Diane, the ship's engineer designing great underwater vessels. His death eventually gives way to what he most feared, Diane choosing Gordon, the ship's doctor, over him.
The four have been given a raw deal by their parents, and their anxiety is not unfounded, as Jacob hides an important message illegally sent from Frank Boltinghouse revealing the ultimate revelation of the extent of the damage he has caused, and his placing it into a secured file results in devious requirements of his erstwhile friends, though it doesn't end well for anyone, whether in the ship or not, and its final shock has Jacob at its hub as everything comes to an end.
Watching this film reveals what a loss the breakup of Tino and Mary-Beth was to the group, as Mary-Beth, who left as a result, was one of our finest actors. The others put in excellent performances as well, in a film that seems almost more suited to the stage than the screen. Very much in a minimalist mode, the film may be only the second science fiction film to not have sound effects in the vacuum of outer space.
Things seem fairly normal as the crew talks about their hopes as they reach Earth, like mission specifics and the "telemovies" that they have watched. Soon art reflects life as we see difficulty in the marriage of Stuart and Diane. Tino and Mary-Beth vowed to continue going together until the filming ended, and it did last a bit longer, but eventually broke up. Their relationship, however, had nothing to do with them being cast as husband and wife. After the final course correction fails, Stuart, as, admittedly, the most expendable member of the crew, the captain, must sacrifice his life, which he had wanted to spend as an antique dealer with Diane, the ship's engineer designing great underwater vessels. His death eventually gives way to what he most feared, Diane choosing Gordon, the ship's doctor, over him.
The four have been given a raw deal by their parents, and their anxiety is not unfounded, as Jacob hides an important message illegally sent from Frank Boltinghouse revealing the ultimate revelation of the extent of the damage he has caused, and his placing it into a secured file results in devious requirements of his erstwhile friends, though it doesn't end well for anyone, whether in the ship or not, and its final shock has Jacob at its hub as everything comes to an end.
Watching this film reveals what a loss the breakup of Tino and Mary-Beth was to the group, as Mary-Beth, who left as a result, was one of our finest actors. The others put in excellent performances as well, in a film that seems almost more suited to the stage than the screen. Very much in a minimalist mode, the film may be only the second science fiction film to not have sound effects in the vacuum of outer space.
