Finian's Rainbow

1968

Finian's Rainbow

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

57%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 14

54%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,569
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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.

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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) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (6)

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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
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