‘EDUCATING RITA’, 1983 – MICHAEL CAINE, JULIE WALTERS AND WILLY RUSSELL SIGNATURES (3)

Two signed photographs, one a black and white still of Michael Caine as Frank, signed and inscribed in black felt pen to Gilbert’s granddaughter Justine, Best Wishes Justine, Michael Caine – 18.8 x 24.6 cm., and a colour photograph of Julie Walters and Lewis Gilbert relaxing on set, signed and inscribed by Walters in black felt pen Just as a record of how I got the job!  Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! & lots of love, Buees [?] – 25 x 17 cm.; and a card from Willy Russell, signed and inscribed inside in black ballpoint FOR LEWIS AND HILDA [sic] WITH LOVE AND THANKS FOR A LOVELY EXPERIENCE, Willy.

Gilbert recalls in his 2010 autobiography All My Flashbacks, that Julie Walters appeared nervous on the first day of filming, and he tried to reassure her after the first rehearsal: “This is going to get you nominated for an Academy Award”.  Although Walters didn’t win the Academy Award, for which she was nominated, she did win the BAFTA for ‘Best Actress’ and the Golden Globe for ‘Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical; additionally, Michael Caine won the BAFTA for ‘Best Actor’, and Lewis Gilbert won for ‘Best Film’. 

Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and opened at The Warehouse in London in June 1980, moving to The Piccadilly Theatre in September of that year, before opening at the Liverpool Playhouse in February 1981 – Russell directed this production himself, the first time he had directed a play.  The RSC production ran in the West End for two and half years, since when it has never been out of production somewhere in the world.  Russell said of his work “I wanted to make a play which engaged and was relevant to those who considered themselves uneducated, those whose daily language is not the language of the university or the theatre. I wanted to write a play which would attract, and be as valid for, the Ritas in the audience as the Franks."

 On the strength of the rave reviews, Hylda Gilbert went to see the play whilst it was at the Warehouse, and on her urging, Lewis went to see it shortly afterwards when it opened at the Piccadilly Theatre.  Julie Walters starred as Rita in this original production opposite Mark Kingston as Frank.  In his autobiography, Gilbert recalls …..but up on that stage it was Julie’s show.  I thought it was wonderful and knew I had to get in touch with the author right away.

Literature: GILBERT, Lewis All My Flashbacks The Autobiography of Lewis Gilbert, Sixty Years A Film Director, Reynolds & Hearn, London, 2010 

Bellmans is grateful to Wallace and Hodgson for their assistance with cataloguing the Lewis Gilbert Film Script and Production Archive.