The Rainbow Jacket

Bill Owen had just starred for Dearden & Relph in a stark black & white drama about boxing called 'The Square Ring', and Ealing presumably felt the need to lighten up a bit for their next film shot largely on location in immaculate Technicolor by Otto Heller. Hence the title.

A subplot concerns money owed by Owen to a loan shark played by an unbilled Bernard Lee (also unbilled are David Hemmings, and Katie Johnson in an amusing cameo), one of whose goons cuts Owen's lip with a beer glass, thus serving to remind us that this is still the Britain of ration books and spivs. But the subplot simply prolongs the film without actually making it any more interesting.

Seventh-billed Honor Blackman as Edward Underdown's wife looks ravishing in Technicolor - and in jodhpurs provides some Bond Girl glamour - but is largely absent from the second half of the film.

if you enjoy horse racing and all that goes with it.If like me you find it a complete bore don't waste your time with this film.The only good thing about it is the colour cinematography.The story is full of clichés and it is surprising to realise that the great T.E.B.Clarke was the scriptwriter.I have to say that after a relatively short period of time I pulled up lame as I was clearly unable to last the course and was unwilling to risk a stewards enquiry.All the usual characters were to be seen such as Robert Morely and Wilfred Hyde White.However by this time Ealing was starting to run out of steam and more importantly money.It only had 2 years left before it was sold to BBC for television productions.You might call that a lame finish.

Interesting to see that Sports movies basically haven't changed a lot in 70 years. This is more of a matinee from Ealing Studios with a cast of well known British actors of their day, although Bill Owen wouldn't gain national fame until twenty years later. A knowledge or love of Horse racing isn't necessary to enjoy this tale that's watchable but not great.

Having waited over 20 years to see The Rainbow Jacket, I was not disappointed. As a racing afficiando and a stickler for detail, I have found most films on the subject somewhat toe curling. The Rainbow Jacket is totally faithful to it's subject. As the story unfolds we are told which racecourse the action is to take place at, in each case we see exactly that course. In many racing films, some factual and historical, the action edits together scenes from several venues. Imagine a film about a Grand National winner showing horses going round the paddock at Epsom - it happens, but not in the Rainbow Jacket. Bill Owen is in top form as Sam. Fella Edmonds plays the up and coming apprentice jockey with wide eyed charm, Robert Morley adds the comedy with his usual aplomb while no racing film of that era would have been complete without Wilfred Hyde White. Look out for a wonderful performance from Ronald Ward as the blackmailer. Of the other characters, Charles Victor amuses as the head lad,Mr Boss his performance is reminiscent of Harry Enfield's 'You don't wanna do that'character. All this is rounded off by appearances by Sid James as the proprieter of a mobile canteen and a brief appearance of that grand old stalwart of the era of classic British movies - Sam Kydd.

The film was criticised in it's day for a corny plot and wooden action shots. Admittedly the plot is a little weak but racing is a notoriously difficult subject on which to add a twist as the outcome of races tend to be a little inevitable. The close up action shots using wooden horses are a little ridiculous but the wide shots are realistic and beautifully photographed at realistic racing pace. So often the action is unnecessarily accelerated. The shots of the early morning gallops really do capture the atmosphere of the wide open space of Newmarket Heath. If you don't like racing you can just wallow in the company of some marvellous British stalwarts at the top of their form in yet another winner from the Ealing Studios.

But a winner in many ways,unless your short sighted like one review on here.You will need a bit of imagination and remember when this was made 1954. Bill Owen star of many British films of that time yes compo,good solid turn in this one,like many of his films.All ok performances and a believable and ok story worth a watch.Watch out for lame reviewers that can't see beyond their short nose.