The Rainbow
“Ken Russell's film of D.H. Lawrence's...”
Synopsis
Born to a rich landowner in the waning days of the Victorian era, Ursula Brangwen grows into a beautiful young woman full of imagination and ambition. The free-spirited Ursula begins to feel trapped by her prim surroundings, but her life changes when she has an erotic experience with Winifred, a bisexual teacher. From then on, Ursula puts all of her passion and creativity into the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. But her insatiable quest becomes a source of anguish.
Top Cast
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Sammi Davis
Ursula Brangwen
Paul McGann
Anton Skrebensky
Amanda Donohoe
Winifred Inger
Christopher Gable
Will Brangwen
David Hemmings
Uncle Henry
Glenda Jackson
Anna Brangwen
Dudley Sutton
MacAllister
Jim Carter
Mr. Harby
Judith Paris
Miss Harby
Kenneth Colley
Mr. Brunt
Glenda McKay
Gudrun Brangwen
Mark Owen
Jim Richards
Ralph Nossek
Vicar
Nicola Stephenson
Ethel
Molly Russell
Molly Brangwen
Alan Edmondson
Billy Brangwen
Rupert Russell
Rupert Brangwen
Richard Platt
Chauffeur
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 5, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ken Russell
- Screenplay & Story
- Ken Russell, Vivian Russell
- Original Score
- Carl Davis
- Original Title
- The Rainbow
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 53m
- Production Studios
- Vestron Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ken Russell
Ken Russell, Vivian Russell, D. H. Lawrence
Carl Davis
Billy Williams
Peter Davies
William J. Quigley, Dan Ireland, Ken Russell
Department Leadership Roster
Ken Russell
Screenplay
Vivian Russell
Screenplay
Ken Russell
Director
Peter Davies
Editor
Carl Davis
Original Music Composer
Luciana Arrighi
Production Design
Billy Williams
Director of Photography
Ken Russell
Producer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Rainbow.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Rainbow.
LGBTQ+
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Movies
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1989
1989
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Rainbow
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Rainbow about?
Born to a rich landowner in the waning days of the Victorian era, Ursula Brangwen grows into a beautiful young woman full of imagination and ambition. The free-spirited Ursula begins to feel trapped by her prim surroundings, but her life changes when she has an erotic experience with Winifred, a bisexual teacher. From then on, Ursula puts all of her passion and creativity into the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. But her insatiable quest becomes a source of anguish.
Who directed The Rainbow?
The Rainbow was directed by Ken Russell.
Who stars in The Rainbow?
The principal cast of The Rainbow includes Sammi Davis, Paul McGann, Amanda Donohoe, Christopher Gable, David Hemmings.
When was The Rainbow released and how long is it?
The Rainbow was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 1h 53m.
Who composed the musical score for The Rainbow?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Rainbow was composed by Carl Davis.
Is The Rainbow based on a book or true story?
The Rainbow is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "D. H. Lawrence".
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Rainbow?
The Rainbow holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).