Finian's Rainbow

1968

Finian's Rainbow

Critics Consensus

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Finian's Rainbow Photos

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Movie Info

Finian's Rainbow is the first major film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The musical comedy concerns the efforts of Irish immigrant Finian (Fred Astaire), who has stolen a pot of gold from a leprechaun. Along with his daughter Sharon (Petula Clark), the couple moves to the United States to the mythical town of Rainbow Valley. The two are soon pursued by Og the leprechaun (Tommy Steele) who seeks to take back the gold from Finian. Finian believes if he buries the gold in the ground, it will grow like an plant and multiply. Sharon befriends Woody (Don Francks), who is being driven off his farm by orders of a bigoted judge (Keenan Wynn). Comedy ensues when Og grants a series of wishes, one of them that turns the Judge into a black man. He experiences firsthand the indignities of racial prejudice in this song filled comedy. Choreographer Hermes Pan was hired at the assistance of Astaire, his longtime friend who had previously worked with Astaire. Pan was fired by Coppola, who referred to the dance scenes as "abysmal." Pan referred to Coppola as "a real pain." Studio executives were impressed with the fact Coppola completed the feature in seven weeks for under 4 million dollars. He would later hit his stride with The Godfather and would become one of the best directors in the last half of the 20th century.

Rating:

G (adult situations)
Genre:

Classics, Comedy, Kids & Family, Musical & Performing Arts
Directed By:

Francis Ford Coppola
Written By:

E.Y. Harburg, Fred Saidy, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
In Theaters:

Oct 9, 1968 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Mar 15, 2005
Runtime:

145 minutes
Studio:

Warner Home Video

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Cast

Fred Astaire
as Finian McLonergan

Petula Clark
as Sharon McLonergan

Tommy Steele
as Og, the Leprechaun

Don Francks
as Woody Mahoney

Keenan Wynn
as Judge Rawkins

Barbara Hancock
as Susan The Silent

Al Freeman Jr.
as Howard

Ronald Colby
as Buzz Collins

Dolph Sweet
as Sheriff

Wright King
as District Attorney

Louis Silas
as Henry

Avon Long
as Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer

Susan Hancock

Roy E. Glenn Sr.
as Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer

Jester Hairston
as Passion Pilgrim Gospeleer

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Critic Reviews for Finian's Rainbow

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (5) | DVD (2)

A light, pastoral fantasy with civil rights angles, underscored by comedy values.

Dec 11, 2007 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic
An underrated musical.

Feb 11, 2006

Tom Milne
Time Out
Top Critic
Joyless.

May 9, 2005 | Full Review…

Renata Adler
New York Times
Top Critic
A marvelous evening right up to its last shot of Astaire walking away down a country road.

Oct 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic
It's Fred Astaire's last musical and a sorry farewell.

Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…

Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic
Francis Ford Coppola, whose previous film was the bouncing You're a Big Boy Now, again directs like a bulldozer with a sense of humour.

Apr 25, 2016 | Full Review…

Penelope Houston
The Spectator
Not as bad as legend has it, but Francis Ford Coppola's film of Finian's Rainbow can hardly be called good

Mar 11, 2011 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
An allegory of the end of the studio system, couched in archaic-modern mementos

Jan 29, 2011 | Full Review…

Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion
One of many musical stinkers made during a decade infamous for them.

Dec 11, 2007 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

TV Guide
An inauspicious early Coppola film of a muscial that was already dated by the time the cameras rolled.

Oct 22, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online
Astaire gives a dignified performance as the Irish immigrant with the leprechaun's pot of gold, Clarke is good as his feisty daughter, and the songs are hugely enjoyable.

May 24, 2003 | Full Review…

Film4 Staff
Film4

View All Critic Reviews (14)

Audience Reviews for Finian's Rainbow

Sep 27, 2007

Some great songs but it drags on forever.

jay n Super Reviewer
Dec 03, 2006

Simply beautiful. Fred Astaire combines his signature dance moves with a new storyline that is sure to deliver you beyond the borderlines of Finian's Rainbow.

Lindsay Elizabeth M Super Reviewer