hyped garbage

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect when I saw this film. I always loved Fred Astaire and Petula Clark. I also vaguely remember having a favorable impression of Tommy Steele from my childhood. The first few minutes were quite amazing, cinematography-wise, and we get to hear the first of about 3 (maybe 4) outstanding Broadway songs ("Look to the Rainbow," How Are Things in Glocca Morra" "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love"). After that, this Titanic sinks quickly. The plot, if there is one, is a rambling mess about Finian, who stole the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and stupidly thought it would "multiply" if he buried it somewhere near Fort Knox. Ooookay. Then we have the bizarre racist story-line which has no connection with the music. Next, we are bouncing back and forth between Fred and Petula and Tommy and Don Francks as "Woody" (horrid! -- we kept taking bets for when his toupee was going to come flying off) and Keenan Wynn as "The Senator" and poor lonely "Silent Susan" (Barbara Hancock, a gifted dancer, yes, but otherwise...)It was impossible to know who to root for or care about and so we just sat and laughed and made jokes about Don and Fred's toupees. It was amazing to see how incredibly well Fred could still dance; at the same time, he looked like he was exhausted and about ready to drop dead (even though he hung on for nearly 20 more years). So, yes, Fred was entertaining when he was dancing. Otherwise, he and everyone else (especially Tommy Steele, who redefines "over the top" every time he screams "Doom and gloom!") seemed to be lost in the flotsam and jetsam of what, I imagine, had some impact as a Broadway musical in the 1940s. By the time they brought it to the screen (directed, inexplicably, by Francis Ford Coppola), it was way too late for anyone to care. It seems woefully out of date and out of touch. Again, the three songs mentioned above were superb examples of fine songwriting, but the rest is a slogfest and a jaw-dropper. There are moments of unexpected hysterical laughter (but not for any reasons the filmmaker intended) and the will-he-won't-he-lose-his-wig betting contest you'll be having, but otherwise... run for the hills ... just not the ones that Finian's Rainbow floats over.

While Fred Astaire would dance and sing one more time in That's Entertainment, Part 2, and would give his final acting performance in Ghost Story, in this one would he do all three for the last time. Before I review the movie proper, I have to note that I previously watched this on VHS in a pan-and-scan version that wasn't always flattering. I have now watched a letterboxed version on the Dailymotion site but, unfortunately, the synchronization was often off by several minutes resulting in silence in the last 7. I also watched the last sequence-of several chronological ones uploaded there-on the same site with perfect sync but now it was full screen, the print wasn't as good, and it was interrupted by a commercial. Ugh! Still, despite all that, I managed to mainly understand where certain dialogue exchanges and musical numbers were fit in and highly enjoyed the performances of not only pro Astaire but also Petula Clark, Don Francks, Tommy Steele, Keenan Wynn, Al Freeman, Jr. who does a hilarious spoof of a stereotypical "shufflin' Negro" butler, and Barbara Hancock whose dancing is divine which makes her mostly silent character have a nice personality, among others in the fine cast. Many of Wynn's lines and his changing from white to Negro was quite funny especially since he's not made to look really foolish by doing that appallingly old-fashioned burnt cork appearance of minstrel days but more authentic like though he still looks like a white man pretending to be black. The songs, by E.Y. Harburg and Burton Lane, are fun and romantic and pleasingly sung by the cast. Perhaps the story, a mix of blarney, whimsy, and social satire, dates it in modern times but it's still entertaining enough. And it's wonderful seeing Astaire give it one more try in his old age. So on that note, I recommend Francis Ford Coppola's Finian's Rainbow. P.S. It's interesting to note for "Dallas" fans that two actors that played Digger Barnes were involved in different productions of this musical: Wynn-the second Digger-here and David Wayne-the first one-as Og in the original Broadway version for which he won a Tony. P.P.S. I just finished the other sequence of uploaded videos I mentioned on DailyMotion. Enjoyed it more despite the lesser print, no letterboxing, and the interrupted commercials.

The cynical world of the late 60's didn't really want the number of sweet movie versions of Broadway musicals that they were producing, and "Finian's Rainbow" was no exception. While it may not have been an absolute disaster at the box office (and broke Warner Brothers the way "Hello, Dolly!" did 20th Century Fox), it wasn't the hit the studio must have expected. However, it is still a fabulous movie and holds up a lot better than some of the film versions of shows released during this time.Take a look at Fred Astaire while he dances to "Look to the Rainbow" with a group of kids he meets in Rainbow Valley, located near Fort Knox where his Irish character has come to bury a pot of gold he has stolen from the leprechaun, Og (Tommy Steele). Astaire, then 69, starts off slow, and as the music pumps up begins to swing his bag around, lifting the bag high up in the air, twisting and turning as if he was a 20-year old. This is a rare moment in a movie where you want to start cheering with joy as a living legend shows what he's made of and the results of the discipline he's held onto for over half a century. Even 8 years later, dancing with Gene Kelly in "That's Entertainment Part II", Mr. Astaire still could move better than most people half his age. While he's top billed (and definitely the lead, as the character is the film's protagonist), the bulk of the movie's running time goes to his on-screen daughter, Sharon (played beautifully by Petula Clark) and the leprechaun, Og. Tommy Steele is a performer who is not for everybody's taste, and some of his character's humour seems to be really outdated. But overall, he's quite likable. In regards to Clark, what other singer/actress in 1968 could have done this role? Shani Wallis, perhaps, but Clark proves here she is more than a singer and brings her acting roots (she was a star in British films in the 1950's) to American audiences. When she breaks out into "How Are Things in Glocca Mora?", she gets the audience in the palm of her hand. And getting to sing the beautiful "Old Devil Moon" with her on-screen love interest, Woody (a slightly wooden Don Francks), she holds onto them.Most of the Broadway score is intact, save "Necessity", and is sung beautifully. Some people may find offense in the racist character Keenan Wynn plays, but he's played as a parody of real-life racists to show how ridiculous they are. Try not to laugh as the black scientist (Al Freeman Jr.) slowly shuffles towards Wynn with his bromo seltzer after Wynn's right hand man tells Freeman he doesn't shuffle enough like the old fashioned black servants they were used to. Wynn's agony and Freeman's glee are a joy to behold. In this storyline, I was slightly disappointed by the fact that Wynn's character, who is wizened up after briefly being turned into a black man, doesn't turn around and fire the bigoted staff he controls once he gains true wisdom and looses his prejudices. "The Begat" (Wynn's song with the black gospel singers he meets up with) is a true show-stopper, even though it really doesn't move the plot forward at all.Sadly, a wonderful Broadway revival only a few years ago didn't catch on with audiences even though critics loved it, but this film is as faithful a record as Hollywood could possibly do. I think Francis Ford Coppolla did an amazing job directing this film, and should be proud of his accomplishments. It is beautiful to look at, wonderful to listen to, and sentimental in the way it utilizes the magnetic Astaire almost 50 years after his Broadway debut.

(pardon for my English) If you are an "impossible worlds dreamer", then you'll love at the most Finian's Rainbow. Otherwise you probably hate it. I love it, I think that it is the BEST musical ever, in certain moments full of overwhelming poetry. Do not linger on details. Breath the magic breeze from Glocca Morra, and let the movie fly you to the sky. Finian's Rainbow has a sort of intrinsic and pervasive grace, that turns everything into gold. And remember that music is absolutely outstanding. All characters in the film are in constant motion: Finian's is always searching for his rainbow, Og descends to earth, Senator has his white-black-white trip, Susan grows to love. Maybe the more static is Sharon, that since the beginning can implement "Look to the rainbow" lyrics, finding and confirming her own rainbow in Woody's eyes. But Sharon wonderfully sing, no need for great movements. Anyway, put aside all these comments above. They are too much rational. And Finian's rainbow must be watched by your child's heart. Wonderful !