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Educating Rita (1983)

Director: Lewis Gilbert

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Willy Russell's adaptation of his own slick theatrical two-hander pits Liverpudlian housewife Walters, in pursuit of true learning via the Open University, against alcoholic academic hack Caine. Apart from the odd cinematic in-joke (Caine's booze concealed behind a copy of The Lost Weekend), Gilbert's direction remains serviceable but stolid: the film's faults - and merits - are mostly those of the play. A few flashes of wit and insight lie embedded in a morass of prejudice, cliché and evasion. Only Walters' ebullient movie debut as the chirpy working class sparrow wanting to 'sing a different song' (the role she created on stage) almost succeeds in infusing the exercise with infectious life.

Author: SJo 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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Cast & crew

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Producer: Lewis Gilbert

Cast: Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael Williams, Maureen Lipman, Jeananne Crowley, Malcolm Douglas full cast

Genre(s): Comedy

Duration: 110 mins

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