NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2025): Indicator have transferred Basil Dearden's "The Rainbow Jacket" to Blu-ray. Shot by cinematographer Otto Heller (The Ipcress File, Peeping Tom, The Ladykillers, Alfie) in vibrant Technicolor, stands out as one of Ealing Studios' rare color productions, leveraging the format to capture the exhilarating spectacle of horse racing with lush, naturalistic hues that emphasize the sport's allure and the post-war British landscape. The Indicator Blu-ray of The Rainbow Jacket presents a high-definition remaster sourced from StudioCanal's HD elements of the original three-strip Technicolor negatives, which faithfully captures the film's lush, stylized visuals from Ealing Studios' late Technicolor era, though minor registration issues from warping in the yellow, cyan, and magenta separation masters result in subtle reddish tinting in skies and whites, as seen in a race-watching scenes and there is minor low frequency edge enhancement. I was imp[ressed with how this looked on my system - intense colors and beautiful outdoor cinematography captures exquisitely by the 1080P.

NOTE: We have added 48 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. The auditory elements of The Rainbow Jacket are anchored in a traditional mono sound mix, typical of mid-1950s British cinema, which prioritizes clear dialogue to drive the character-focused drama while incorporating ambient effects to immerse viewers in the racing milieu. Sound design features naturalistic crowd murmurs, the rhythmic thuds of horse hooves on turf, and the excited chatter at racecourses, enhancing the film's sense of verisimilitude without overwhelming the narrative. Composer William Alwyn's (Burn Witch, Burn, So Evil My Love, The Running Man, Green For Danger, So Evil My Love, Life For Ruth, Odd Man Out, On Approval, A Night to Remember and The Fallen Idol)  orchestral score plays a supportive role, building tension through swelling strings and brass during high-stakes races and stewards' inquiries, while lighter, melodic motifs underscore moments of mentorship and redemption, reflecting Ealing's understated style rather than overt emotional manipulation. The music avoids bombast, instead integrating subtly with sound effects like whipping winds on the heath or the clang of stable gates, creating a cohesive auditory backdrop that complements the film's deliberate pacing and moral undertones, though it lacks the innovation seen in contemporary Hollywood scores. The audio transfer is competent with clear dialogue reproduction, mild analogue hiss only noticeable at higher volumes, and well-balanced score and effects that integrate seamlessly with ambient sounds and crescendos, ensuring the film's dramatic tension and racing sequences are effectively conveyed. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

The extras package on the Indicator Limited Edition Blu-ray is robust and contextually rich, starting with "Sweet Redemption", a new 9 minute interview where director and screenwriter James Dearden introduces his father Basil Dearden's work, offering trivia and personal insights; "Racing at Ealing" (2021 - a dozen minutes), a featurette on the film's production with archival interviews from Ealing crew members like assistant directors and focus pullers; and "Jockey of the Jacket" (2021, running over 20 minutes), where actor Fella Edmonds recounts his experiences as the young protagonist. Additional supplements include the original theatrical trailer, the 1940 short film "Young Veteran" (running shy of 24 minutes) directed by Alberto Cavalcanti (They Made Me a Fugitive, Nicholas Nickleby, Went the Day Well, Dead of Night) with Basil Dearden as production assistant, focusing on WWII recruits; extensive image galleries covering promotional material (over 100 images), behind-the-scenes (70+ images), and dialogue continuity script (100 images); and a limited edition 36-page booklet featuring a new essay by Robert Murphy (Sixties British Cinema,) archival profiles of stars Honor Blackman, Bill Owen, and Fella Edmonds, a production report, pressbook extracts, and full credits.

Basil Dearden's "The Rainbow Jacket" is a British sports drama that delves into the world of horse racing, blending elements of redemption, corruption, and mentorship in post-war Britain. Shot in vibrant Technicolor with location filming at real racecourses like Newmarket and Epsom, the film features a strong ensemble cast including Bill Owen (Georgy Girl, The Masque of the Red Death, PT Raiders, The Square Ring) as the disgraced jockey Sam Lilley, young newcomer Fella Edmonds as his protégé Georgie Crain, Kay Walsh (Oliver Twist, The Horse's Mouth, This Happy Breed) as Georgie's mother Barbara, Robert Morley (When Eight Bells Toll, The Good Die Young, Outcast of the Islands) as the aristocratic Lord Logan, Honor Blackman (Goldfinger, Jason and the Argonauts, The Avengers TV series) as the glamorous Mrs. Tyler, and Sid James (Hell Drivers, Quatermass 2, The Iron Petticoat, Trapeze, A Kid for Two Farthings, The Slasher, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Carry On series...) in a supporting role. Written by T.E.B. Clarke, known for his work on The Blue Lamp (1950), the film explores the ethical underbelly of the sport while offering a sentimental view of life typical of late Ealing productions, marking it as a transitional piece in the studio's output during the 1950s. At its heart, The Rainbow Jacket grapples with themes of redemption, corruption, and the tension between tradition and potential in the rigid world of horse racing. The film portrays the sport as a microcosm of post-war British society, where ambition clashes with moral integrity, and illicit activities like gambling and race-fixing reflect lingering economic hardships, including references to ration books and petty crime. Redemption is central, as Sam's mentorship of Georgie offers him a second chance, yet the narrative ultimately privileges institutional traditions over individual potential - Sam's sacrifices reinforce the status quo, ending in mundane domesticity rather than triumph. Loyalty and mentorship are idealized, with Georgie's unwavering defense of Sam highlighting youthful honor, while the "queer goings-on" in racing underscore ethical ambiguities. Indicator's Limited Edition Blu-ray of The Rainbow Jacket emerges as a commendable release for fans of classic British cinema and Ealing Studios output, delivering a highly pleasing Technicolor transfer that highlights the film's naturalistic yet stylized visuals despite minor registration flaws, paired with reliable mono audio and a thoughtful array of extras that provide historical and production context, earning a high rating for this charming sporting melodrama. Recommended.

Gary Tooze