I feel like I should have read D.H. Lawrence’s novel before watching The Rainbow (1989) because maybe the main character of Ursula Brangwen would make a bit more sense. She’s a capricious young woman, unsatisfied by the strictures of the Edwardian era, yet the way she deals with this is … odd. Her story isn’t an expected “rebellious young woman” tale or even a sexual awakening story, even though Lawrence wrote about that a lot and director Ken Russell’s movies feature a lot of sex.
Ultimately, Ursula wants to play around, maybe not exactly for sex (which she seems to enjoy with women or men eventually), but for passionate relationships with different people. She mostly wants independence, of body and mind, to use and experience as she feels right for herself. And due to the time period she’s been raised in, she doesn’t have the capability to express this and act on it fully. And no-one, especially not men, but sadly not fellow women, understands her instincts. Ursula is driven to choose her own path, she tries different things, makes some mistakes, but just keeps going.
That sounds better than it works in this film, so maybe it’s better in the book also? It’s not bad per se here but between Russell’s overwrought film-making (which I’m going to dive into itself soon!) and a sort of forced naiveté on the part of Sammi Davis playing Ursula, I couldn’t quite buy into the whole thing. There are moments though that make it worthwhile, such as the very subtle commentary on marriage and child-rearing between Ursula and her mother (played by the always excellent Glenda Jackson).
The period is loosely set at the turn of the last century, starting with Ursula as a schoolgirl, through her becoming a schoolteacher. At one point, her lover Anton goes off to fight in the Second Boer War, which went from 1899 to 1902, thus giving some dates for the events. The costumes are simple and appropriate for mostly countryside middling to upper-class folks, plus the East End London school Ursula teaches at.
She’s trying to be a “New Woman” — compare to this fashion plate.
Have you seen The Rainbow or read the book it’s based on?
Find this frock flick at:
Didn’t the actress who plays Winnifred appear in the Madness of King George as the lady in waiting?
Yep! I forgot to put her name — Amanda Donohoe.
Love this actress!
Yes! That’s Amanda Donohoe. Good call; I didn’t recognize her with blonde hair. :)
I’ve seen the film, as part of my recovery-from-surgery dive into Paul McGann’s filmography (hubba hubba), and like the costuming…. I just can’t stand Ursula. I want to shake her frequently.
I hated this movie and did not at all like the character or portrayal of Ursula…and the bangs I really hated…
Am not a Russell fan, so didn’t see this. However, the BBC mini-series with Imogene Stubbs is very good indeed, although it, too, leaves out a big hunk of the novel, which begins with the courtship of Ursula’s parents: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rainbow_(BBC_serial)
I haven’t seen it, but y’know how Ken Russell makes a good film, then a bad one, then a good one, then an insane one, then a good one… and so forth.
This is a prequel to “Women in Love”… one of his good ones. (It was made after tho’) Ursula in that film is played by Jennie Linden, a very good actress… one of those RSC alumni. (She’s really good as Thea in the film “Hedda”)
I meant to say “The Rainbow” was made after “Women in Love”… but I was very unclear in my comment.
BTW… FYI the film “Hedda”, which isn’t on a disc or anything, can be seen on YouTube. It’s recorded off the TV so the quality is dreadful, but it’s such a good film it’s worth watching that way. The costumes by John Napier are understated but correct and pretty accurate.