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I love musicals and have done for the longest time. Finian's Rainbow is not among the best of the film musicals, but it is hardly among the worst either. It does have a ridiculous story and some moments of awkward editing. That said, it is definitely worth watching and is for me Francis Ford-Coppola's most underrated film.

The editing aside, I like the production values a lot, as the sets and costumes are lovely and there is some good lighting. The score and songs are all wonderful, my least favourite The Begat is still very good, and Old Devil Moon, When the Idle Poor Became the Idle Rich and particularly Look to the Rainbow are timeless.

Coppola directs with assurance, the choreography is some of the best I've seen in a while and the script has a lot of funny, witty and heart warming parts. When it comes to favourite scenes, the Rain Dance Ballet, which is lovingly choreographed, and the scene where Al Freeman Jnr applies for the job of butler, which is hilarious, are the most memorable to me.

I can't fault the cast either, Fred Astaire can do no wrong in my eyes, Tommy Steele and Al Freeman Jnr steal every scene they're in and I don't think there is another film where Petula Clark is more perfectly cast. In conclusion, flawed but definitely worth the watch. 8/10 Bethany Cox