Art & Hue is at the races with this new collection of stylish pop art inspired by the 1954 film “The Rainbow Jacket”, a delightful Ealing Studios gem that gallops into the thrilling world of horse racing.

It follows the redemption arc of a disgraced jockey who mentors a talented young rider, weaving a heartfelt tale of ambition, second chances, and the enthralling spirit of the sport.

With its warm performances and authentic racetrack atmosphere, the film stars child actor Fella Edmonds as the boy jockey, along with a stellar cast of British film’s most talented & prolific character actors including Bill Owen, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Michael Ripper, Edward Underdown, Katie Johnson, Sid James, Glyn Houston and Sam Kydd, as well as Honor Blackman, who would go on to star in “The Avengers“, and Robert Morley who was a huge fan of horse racing with a bench dedicated to him at Windsor racecourse as it was “his spiritual home”.

The production authentically captures the racing scene by filming at several famous racecourses, including Newmarket, Sandown Park and Epsom. Additionally, scenes were shot at Doncaster and Lingfield Park, further enhancing the film’s genuine portrayal of the sport.

The film’s authenticity was aided by real-life figures from the horse racing world involved in the production, including jockey & trainer John Hislop as the film’s racing consultant, a cameo by renowned jockey Sir Gordon Richards, considered by many to be the best jockey of all time (and the only one to be knighted), and BBC sport radio commentator Raymond Glendenning who briefly appears in the film.

Opening at the Leicester Square Theatre in London on the 27th of May 1954, “The Rainbow Jacket” is a delightful snapshot of horse racing in British cinema which captures the thrilling world of the sport with Ealing Studios‘ signature warmth and wit. Its blend of authentic on-location scenes at racetracks, an underdog story, and a nostalgic portrait of post-war Britain makes it uniquely special, all filmed in glorious Technicolor.