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The Rainbow
1989
Defying the moral constraints of Victorian England and her parents, a young woman engages in unbridled promiscuity with two partners before setting out to capture the fuller sensuality of life itself. Based on the 1915 novel by D.H. Lawrence. Read more
| Starring | Sammi Davis, Paul McGann, Amanda Donohoe, Christopher Gable |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Russell |
| Genres | Drama |
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The Rainbow
Defying the moral constraints of Victorian England and her parents, a young woman engages in unbridled promiscuity with two partners before setting out to capture the fuller sensuality of life itself. Based on the 1915 novel by D.H. Lawrence.
| Starring | Sammi Davis, Paul McGann, Amanda Donohoe, Christopher Gable, David Hemmings, Glenda Jackson |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Russell |
| Studio | LIONS GATE FILMS-FOX |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins Watch now: 1 hr 51 mins |
| Certificate | DVD: , Watch Online: |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English Watch Online: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: None |
| Released | DVD: 23 Jul 2001 Watch now: 11 Aug 2009 Production year: 1989 |
| Watch now | £2.49 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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Another slice of sexual repression bursting its stays from the sweaty hand of director Ken Russell, who takes a further dip after Women in Love into the DH Lawrence lucky bag, but to decidedly lacklustre effect. All clichés are alive and thrashing, including monosyllabic but “deeply meaningful” dialogue interspersed with heaving bosoms and frantic copulation by crashing waterfalls. The long and rambling novel has been fashioned into a long and rambling film with only Sammi Davis's portrayal of the feisty, no-nonsense Ursula lifting the unleavened load. Co-star Paul McGann looks as if he was born to rifle through Lawrentian lingerie, but the whole farrago creaks louder than the aforementioned corsetry.
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"...Russell is the purest interpreter that D.H. Lawrence could have hoped for....[THE RAINBOW is Russell's] most lyrical and conventional film in years..."
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Most helpful member's review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Interesting
Interesting to see this film - maybe for the first time!
'The Rainbow' (published 1911) tells the story of part of the earlier life of Ursula -
one of the 2 sisters later featured in 'Women In Love' (published 1921).
It focuses on Ursula's transition from schoolgirl to woman - via romantic attachments to a young soldier & to one of her schoolmistresses.
I thought I had the Book, but I can't find it.
I think I probably bought the book after seeing the 1969 film of 'Women In Love' -
whereas THIS film wasn't released until 1989 (although both were directed by Ken Russell).
Before watching this DVD I couldn't remember ANYTHING about the storyline.
The story didn't seem to have a great deal to it -
and some things it did show (eg a schoolboy bullying a teacher) I didn't enjoy.
(And the schoolmistress who 'brings Ursula out' seems to have a peculiar-looking, somewhat off-putting wig?)
However, I found the film interesting, & enjoyed lots of it.
(I am into 'costume dramas'.)
David Hemmings is a bonus, as Ursula's mine-owning Uncle.
Her father (delightfully fond of his children when young) was portrayed by Christopher Gable.
Ursula herself is appealingly played by Sammi Davis.
(in the film of 'Women in Love', Ursula is played by Jennie Linden.) -
Most recent members' review
View all -
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Interesting
Interesting to see this film - maybe for the first time!
'The Rainbow' (published 1911) tells the story of part of the earlier life of Ursula -
one of the 2 sisters later featured in 'Women In Love' (published 1921).
It focuses on Ursula's transition from schoolgirl to woman - via romantic attachments to a young soldier & to one of her schoolmistresses.
I thought I had the Book, but I can't find it.
I think I probably bought the book after seeing the 1969 film of 'Women In Love' -
whereas THIS film wasn't released until 1989 (although both were directed by Ken Russell).
Before watching this DVD I couldn't remember ANYTHING about the storyline.
The story didn't seem to have a great deal to it -
and some things it did show (eg a schoolboy bullying a teacher) I didn't enjoy.
(And the schoolmistress who 'brings Ursula out' seems to have a peculiar-looking, somewhat off-putting wig?)
However, I found the film interesting, & enjoyed lots of it.
(I am into 'costume dramas'.)
David Hemmings is a bonus, as Ursula's mine-owning Uncle.
Her father (delightfully fond of his children when young) was portrayed by Christopher Gable.
Ursula herself is appealingly played by Sammi Davis.
(in the film of 'Women in Love', Ursula is played by Jennie Linden.) -
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Defying the moral constraints of Victorian England and her parents, a young woman engages in unbridled promiscuity with two partners before setting out to capture the fuller sensuality of life itself.... -