Dave I don't know why this is thought highly of by critics - it's one of the worst films I've ever seen. It's slow, dull, unfunny and none of the characters are likable. There's no indication as to what the protagonist wants to do with her literature qualification. Does she want to find a good job? If so, as what? Does she want educated friends? We never find out.Why does the protagonist call herself Rita, when her real name is Susan? If she wants to become classy, cultured etc. - then why swap one common, ordinary name for another?Michael Caine's character is a tired, cardboard cutout alcoholic. He's not the inspiring, enthusiastic, charismatic character that he's meant to be. He's a great actor, but he's wasted in this role.

treeline1 Rita White (Julie Walters) is a spunky, 26-year old working class woman who wants to improve her lot. She enrolls in a special Open University class and meets with her tutor, Frank (Michael Caine) once a week to study great literature. Frank, who spends his days in an alcoholic haze, is at first intrigued and later enthralled with the outspoken Rita.This is a wonderful showcase for the talented and adorable Julie Walters. She is dazzling and thoroughly likable and every word spoken in her thick Liverpool accent rings honest and true. Caine lets her shine by downplaying Frank, who is hopelessly morose and more than a bit lazy. Both were rightly nominated for best acting Oscars.The inevitable transformation/ improvement of both characters is sweet and uplifting without being overly-sentimental. Walters, best known these days as the matronly Mrs. Weasley in "Harry Potter," is so young and pretty and lights up the screen with her charisma. Recommended.

sddavis63 The highlight of this movie is without doubt the performances of Michael Caine and Julie Walters. They were superb together, each latching on to their roles perfectly, and with a marvellous on screen chemistry together. Those strong performances were essential to make this movie work, because of the subject matter. Essentially a retelling of Shaw's "Pygmalion" set in the contemporary world of a university campus, the story isn't at all original (although it has a few twists) but Caine and Walters make it worth watching.Caine is Dr. Frank Bryant, an English Professor who obviously struggles with demons of his own, in a relationship that isn't working well and spending a good deal of his time drunk, even when he's teaching. Into his life comes Rita (Walters), whose real name is Susan. She's an Open University student who wants to overcome her working class roots and become educated and cultured. She has to overcome opposition from her own husband and family, who are upset with her because she's been married six years and hasn't had a baby yet - which they seem to feel is her only purpose in life. Bryant and Rita develop a bond and help each other overcome their personal challenges and find transformation. Rita leaves her husband behind and becomes a full time student (and something of an expert on Chekov), while Bryant - after an embarrassing scene in which he's falling down drunk in front of his class - is packed off to Australia, which represents for him a new beginning.I appreciated the decision not to turn this into a sappy romance between Bryant and Rita. That seemed to be the way the ending was headed and it would have been the wrong way to go. Instead, Rita simply meets Bryant at the airport as he's flying off and thanks him for everything he's done and - whatever his personal problems - for being such a wonderful teacher to her. It's a very moving closing scene, made even more emotional by the very fact that there's no romance involved. Then, they simply go their separate ways into new lives. The line that stands out for me from the movie is spoken by Rita's mother. As the family gathers in a pub and sings along with the music she looks decidedly unhappy. Rita asks her what's wrong, and her memorable reply, with pained look on her face, is "There must be a better song." In other words, she - alone among the family - understands Rita's need to get away from all this. The movie is well done; one of countless adaptations of "Pygmalion" and so it won't carry a lot of mystery for anyone, but still well done. 7/10

palexandersquires This is a very good Story, about Susan White (Rita), who is 26, she should of had a baby, but first of all, she wants to discover herself. or her inner soul. So She goes to the nearby Collage. There she meets this drunken teacher Frank Bryant. We see him looking for a certain book, "The Lost Weekend" by Charles Dickens, behind that we see a bottle of whisky. He drinks quite a lot of it, just before he is about to give a lesson to a room of 20 young Students.He does not listen to a Student when he asks Frank a Question, He just stares out into space. I quite like it when in one of his lectures, he says:"did you see Peer Gynt on the radio" he annoys the Bursar and is warned about his drunkenness, to which he shouts "Sod Them!" I like the music and I think that Julie Walters and Micheal Caine, is a very good combination here we have two good actor and actress roles and one good story, You never get tired of seeing this film, and This Film is British to the core! I think that Denny, should of been more supportive to his wife, Susan does say to Frank that Denny is "Thick" I also like the quote: Wouldn't you simply die, without Marhler" I also think that the record player should of switched itself off like mine does!