Rita, a witty 26-year-old hairdresser, wants to 'discover' herself, so she joins the Open University where she meets the disillusioned professor of literature, Dr. Frank Bryant. His marriage has failed, his new girlfriend is having an affair with his best friend and he can't get through the day without downing a bottle or two of whisky. What Frank needs is a challenge... and along comes Rita.
Directed by Lewis Gilbert
hairdresser
literature professor
based on play or musical
university
alcoholic
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Letterboxd
3.6 / 5
Cast
Michael Caine
Dr. Frank Bryant
Julie Walters
Rita Susan White
Michael Williams
Brian
Maureen Lipman
Trish
Jeananne Crowley
Julia
Malcolm Douglas
Denny
Godfrey Quigley
Rita's Father
Dearbhla Molloy
Elaine
Christopher Casson
Professor
Hilary Reynolds
Lesley
Jack Walsh
Price
Gabrielle Reidy
Barbara
Crew
Lewis Gilbert
Director
Willy Russell
Screenplay
Lewis Gilbert
Producer
Willy Russell
Theatre Play
Popular Reviews
37 reviews
lian
9.0★ · 02/15/26
Life is such a rich and frantic world that I need the drink to help me step delicately through it.– true (i'm an alcoholic). FUCKKKKKK I watched this pre-menstrual and I'm emotional as hell and ugly crying. I pity both of their character so fucking much, plus i think i have a roman holiday ptsd because the last scene reminds me of it – my utter heartbreak when i found out she ain't coming to australia, that's where my tears burst like a flood. moreover, i found out this wasn't supposed to be romance chemistry, but fucking hell man, idgaf bro. michael portrayed the caring part so well, i thought he was yearning.
Life is such a rich and frantic world that I need the drink to help me step delicately through it.– true (i'm an alcoholic). FUCKKKKKK I watched this pre-menstrual and I'm emotional as hell and ugly crying. I pity both of their character so fucking much, plus i think i have a roman holiday ptsd because the last scene reminds me of it – my utter heartbreak when i found out she ain't coming to australia, that's where my tears burst like a flood. moreover, i found out this wasn't supposed to be romance chemistry, but fucking hell man, idgaf bro. michael portrayed the caring part so well, i thought he was yearning.
seth
8.0★ · 02/01/26
this is your future if you take english lit a level 🙏
this is your future if you take english lit a level 🙏
Michael
6.0★ · 01/19/26
As far as movies based on books we have to read at school go, this is actually not bad.
As far as movies based on books we have to read at school go, this is actually not bad.
Richard McDivenPRO
8.0★ · 09/24/25
Micheal Caine teaching Irish women ball knowledge on poetry is a great genre
Micheal Caine teaching Irish women ball knowledge on poetry is a great genre
