Educating Rita (1983)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writer:

Willy Russell (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

21 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

A comedy about a teacher and a very memorable student [Video Australia]

Plot:

A young wife decides to complete her education and take her exams. She meets a professor who teaches...

Plot Keywords:

Professor | Doctor | Hairdresser | Teaching | Waitress

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Dr. Frank Bryant
Julie Walters	...	Rita Susan White
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
Marcus O'Higgins	...	Marcus
Mark Drew	...	Disco Manager
Gabrielle Reidy	...	Barbara
Des Nealon	...	Invigilator
Marie Conmee	...	Customer in Hairdressers
Oliver Maguire	...	Tutor
Derry Power	...	Photographer
Alan Stanford	...	Bistro Manager
Gerry Sullivan	...	Security Officer
Patricia Jeffares	...	Rita's Mother
Maeve Germaine	...	Sandra
Liam Stack	...	Sandra's Fiancé

Directed by
Lewis Gilbert

Writing credits
Willy Russell		(screenplay)
Willy Russell		play (uncredited)

Produced by
William P. Cartlidge	....	co-producer
Lewis Gilbert	....	producer
Herbert L. Oakes	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Hentschel

Cinematography by
Frank Watts		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Garth Craven

Casting by
Weston Drury Jr.
Nuala Moiselle

Art Direction by
Maurice Fowler

Set Decoration by
Josie MacAvin

Costume Design by
Candy Paterson

Makeup Department
Patricia McDermott	....	key hair stylist
Freddie Williamson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Jack Phelan	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michel Cheyko	....	assistant director
Martin O'Malley	....	second assistant director
John G. Phelan	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Joe Lee	....	construction manager
Sunny Mulligan	....	production buyer

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	dubbing mixer
Daniel Brisseau	....	sound mixer
Ron Davis	....	dubbing editor
John Hayward	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist
Liam Saurin	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Gerry Johnston	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Alan Church	....	optical camera (uncredited)
Tony Willis	....	effects cameraman (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Collins	....	still photographer
Louie Conroy	....	gaffer
Patrick Conroy	....	electrical gaffer
Phillip Grosvenor	....	assistant camera
Luke Quigley	....	camera grip
Tony White	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Gallagher	....	wardrobe master
Rita Wakely	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Michael Kelliher	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Arthur Dunne	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Jean Bourne	....	continuity coordinator
Con Cremins	....	accounting assistant
Brian Doyle	....	unit publicist
Vernon Harris	....	script editor
Marie McFerran	....	production assistant
Rex Mitchell	....	production accountant
Grania O'Shannon	....	location manager
Candy Paterson	....	hair and fashion consultant

Production Companies

• Acorn Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1983) (UK) (theatrical)
• ITV DVD (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (video)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (video)
• Rank Video Library (1985) (UK) (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• GSE  titles and opticals
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Pamys & DeLane Lea  post-production facilities
• Pinewood Studios  sound re-recorded at

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Belfield Campus, University College, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland

Company:

Acorn Pictures

Trivia:

When Frank is drunk in the lecture hall, he says, "Not many people know that." This not only became a familiar catchphrase for Michael Caine but also the title of a best-selling collection of trivia anecdotes, which Caine compiled in book form for the National Playing Fields Association charity in 1984.

Goofs:

Continuity: 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.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: Educating Fran (#5.9)" (1997)

Lewis Gilbert's movies

Having cast Michael Caine in "Alfie" some years earlier, director Lewis Gilbert reunited with him for the equally splendid "Educating Rita". Caine plays drunken, burned-out literature teacher Frank Bryant. Frank seems just about at the end of his rope when he meets hairdresser Rita (Julie Walters), who wants to continue her education. In the process, they both learn some things from each other.

This may sound like a cliché, but it's not here. They never let the movie turn into a sugary mess; they keep it strong from beginning to end. Michael Caine reaffirmed himself as possibly the Union Jack's most dependable actor of the post-war period, and Julie Walters jump-started a formidable career that would include "Billy Elliot" and the "Harry Potter" movies. Lewis Gilbert went on to direct "Shirley Valentine", another movie that everyone should see.