I quite enjoyed this slightly over-long tale of a young, aspiring jockey. There isn't much about the nags that "Georgie" (Fella Edmonds) doesn't know and he yearns to get a race. That might just prove possible when he encounters disgraced former champion "Sam" (Bill Owen) at a meeting where he successfully calls the result. Next thing, he's got a job as a stable boy where he could get a ride for the wealthy "Mr. Logan" (Robert Morley). He is a loyal young man who really only wants to help his mother (Kay Walsh) and now, to repay his mentor. It's the latter man who might put a spanner in his works, though - he has got into some trouble and now needs a "favour" from his young protegée. Just managing to get away with that, we just know there will be more unscrupulousness to come - but maybe, just maybe, "Sam" might just grow a pair and save the young man from having to follow in his inauspicious footsteps? Basil Dearden has assembled a solid cast here with an on-form Morley, Wilfrid Hyde-White very much playing to type and a few regulars like Sid James and Michael Trubshawe in there too. Edmonds does fine as the engaging and honourable young lad and by the conclusion, I suspect everyone wanted a few quid on his horse. Sure, it's all a bit predictable but so many of these films were just designed to take our attention from the post-war ravages that still dogged most of daily life in Britain. This one does that quite engagingly and is worth a watch.
The Rainbow Jacket
1954
Action / Drama / Sport
The Rainbow Jacket
1954
Action / Drama / Sport
Plot summary
A champion jockey is banned from racing so spends his time helping a young lad to become the next champion.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
July 24, 2021 at 05:38 PM
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
The Rainbow Jacket
couldn't stay the course
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.
Enjoyable but predictable
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.