Question 1

Why was Fred Astaire's footwork cropped in Finian's Rainbow?

Accepted Answer

Warner Bros. decided after filming in 35mm to convert the film to 70mm for a roadshow release, cropping the tops and bottoms of the frame, which cut off some shots of Astaire's feet.

Question 2

What caused ill-feeling between Fred Astaire and director Francis Ford Coppola during production?

Accepted Answer

Choreographer Hermes Pan, who had a long association with Astaire, was fired part-way through production and replaced by Claude Thompson. Pan's departure caused considerable ill-feeling between Astaire and Coppola.

Question 3

What is the significance of the name 'George' in Finian's Rainbow?

Accepted Answer

During Howard's job interview, Buzz keeps calling him 'George', a reference to the Pullman Railway Car Company, which required African-American porters to answer to that name, known for degrading treatment.

Question 4

Why was the 1947 Broadway musical Finian's Rainbow considered a 'hot potato' by Hollywood studios?

Accepted Answer

Because of its satire on racism, studios wanted to change the story, but the original creators held out, and by 1968 it was filmed with very few changes.

Question 5

Which awards did Finian's Rainbow receive in 1969?

Accepted Answer

It received awards from the Golden Globes (USA), Academy Awards, and Writers Guild of America in 1969.

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Finian's Rainbow

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