Rainbow (1978 film)

{{Short description|1978 television film about Judy Garland directed by Jackie Cooper}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre = Biography
Drama
Music

| based_on = Rainbow: The Stormy Life of Judy Garland by Christopher Finch

| writer = John McGreevey

| screenplay =

| story =

| director = Jackie Cooper

| starring = Andrea McArdle
Don Murray
Michael Parks
Piper Laurie
Rue McClanahan

| music = Charles Fox

| country = United States

| language = English

| executive_producer = Greg Strangis
William Hogan

| producer = Peter Dunne

| location =

| cinematography = Howard Schwartz

| editor = Jerry Dronsky

| camera =

| runtime = 97 minutes

| company = Ten-Four Productions

| budget =

| network = NBC

| released = {{Start date|1978|11|06}}

}}

Rainbow is a 1978 American made-for-television biographical musical drama film which chronicles the early years of singer-actress Judy Garland, portrayed by Andrea McArdle. Directed by Jackie Cooper, it was written by John McGreevey based on the 1975 book Rainbow: The Stormy Life of Judy Garland by Christopher Finch. It originally aired on NBC Monday Night at the Movies on November 6, 1978. The casting of McArdle as Judy Garland was heavily criticized at the time, as the actress did not resemble nor sound remotely like Garland.

Synopsis

The film depicts the life and struggles of Judy Garland during her early years in vaudeville, and follows her through her illustrious and highly publicized rise to stardom at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios; her trials as a youngster in dealing with the movie studio system that held her back while her mother was pushing her to excel; and the backstage joy and heartbreak during the filming of The Wizard of Oz (1939).