Finian's Rainbow (film)
- Fred Astaire as Finian McLonergan
- Petula Clark Sharon McLonergan
- Tommy Steele as Og the leprechaun
- Don Francks as Woody Mahoney
- Keenan Wynn as Senator Rawkins
- Barbara Hancock as Susan
- Al Freeman Jr. as Howard
- Ronald Colby as Buzz Collins
The golden rainbow is a two -time Academy Award - nominated American musical with fairy tale motifs of director Francis Ford Coppola from the year 1968. It is based on the Broadway play of the same name by E. Y. Harburg, Fred Saidy and Burton Lane.
Action
One day the Irishman Finian McLonergan goes with his daughter Sharon to Rainbow Valley - a small Southern town in the fictional state of Missitucky who lives on tobacco growing. In his possession is a pot of gold, he has stolen the fairy folk. The superstitious Finian believes that the ground near Fort Knox has the ability to increase the gold. The residents of Rainbow Valley are, however, before the destruction of their existence, for they shall be expropriated because of tax liabilities. Finian helps to pay off the debt ( he pays the fee of $ 77 ) and thus acquires the right to a piece of land in the bottom of which he buries the pot of gold. The locals Woody Mahoney - as spun and charming as her father - the feisty Sharon begins to woo. His dream is to cross tobacco with menthol.
The leprechaun Og has Finian of Ireland followed in the States to get back to the pot. Without this pot Og loses its magical powers, and is gradually a mortal man - which is also not without charms: Og falls - in Sharon, mute in Woody's sister Susan, who communicates by means of expressive dance, and basically in every woman, of which he is angesichtig.
When the racist and greedy Senator Rawkins learns from the " gold deposits " in Rainbow Valley, it all means are acceptable to acquire the land. He refers to an obscure law that the coexistence of blacks and whites is declared illegal. Beside himself, Sharon hopes that the senator will black, and since it is at the time about the magic pot, goes to her wish come true. In order to prevent his daughter is burned as a witch, Finian must find the now defunct gold pot before its magical powers can be consumed, and make the curse of Purified Rawkins reversed.
Reviews
For the filmdienst the film is an " over-long, somewhat superficial fairy tale musical, which has anyway to provide lighthearted entertainment. "
Background
This musical was premiered in 1947 on Broadway. The racial satire contained in the piece made the piece for 20 years unfilmable. The topic was one of the reasons why the film was a failure.
On set, Coppola met the young George Lucas know and hired him as an assistant director. The two became friends.
The film is Fred Astaire's last musical film adaptation.
The first name of the film character Woody Mahoney is inspired by Woody Guthrie.
Awards
Furthermore, the film was nominated for various other awards.