Educating Rita

1983, Comedy/Drama, 1h 50m

15 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

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Oof, that was Rotten.

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Awesome!

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Educating Rita Photos

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Movie Info

Rita (Julie Walters), a married hair stylist in her 20s, wants to go back to school. She begins studying with Dr. Bryant (Michael Caine), a professor using alcohol to cope with his divorce. Despite his personal problems, Dr. Bryant helps Rita realize her academic potential. In turn, her passion for learning revitalizes his love of teaching. However, when Rita's blue-collar spouse learns that his wife is more interested in education than homemaking, he becomes frustrated by her independence.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

Comedy, Drama
Original Language:

English
Director:

Lewis Gilbert
Producer:

Lewis Gilbert
Writer:

Willy Russell
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 21, 1983 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 24, 2006
Runtime:

1h 50m
Distributor:

Columbia Pictures, RCA/Columbia
Sound Mix:

Stereo

Cast & Crew

Michael Caine
Dr. Frank Bryant

Julie Walters
Rita, aka Susan

Michael Williams
Brian

Maureen Lipman
Trish

Jeananne Crowley
Julia

Malcolm Douglas
Denny

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Educating Rita

All Critics (15) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (3)

Full Review… Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times

Full Review… Nell Minow Movie Mom

Full Review… Octavi Marti El Pais (Spain)

Full Review… David N. Butterworth La Movie Boeuf

Full Review… Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

Full Review… Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com

Full Review… Lori Hoffman Atlantic City Weekly

Full Review… John J. Puccio Movie Metropolis

Full Review… Don Willmott Filmcritic.com

Full Review… Linda Cook Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

Full Review… Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Full Review… Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall

View All Critic Reviews (15)

Audience Reviews for Educating Rita

Apr 09, 2021

George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion gets a modern era redo in this capable personality vehicle for it's leads; Michael Caine and Julie Walters. It's she that desires a higher education "to better herself" in this version which highlights changing attitudes since Shaw first presented his "scandalous" ideas about women's liberation, not him. And he...he may not be so sure as to whether societal advancement is worth the bother. The film only teases at a romance, and is more a commentary about social change since Victorian times, howbeit entertaining presented.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
Jan 10, 2014

The intimacy of the play is ruined by the film's worthless expansion of it's world (who cares about anyone else except for Rita and Frank?) so even though Walters and Caine give excellent performances all of the potentially interesting themes get lost in boring secondary material.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Aug 07, 2013

Call this the poor man's Pygmalion. Michael Caine and Julie Walters don't do anything offensive but nor do they particularly soar. You watch it, shrug and carry on.

John B Super Reviewer
May 10, 2013

At heart it's an exhibition piece for the two leads and they do not disappoint. The score is ear-achingly bad though.

Marcus W Super Reviewer