Comedy
United States of America
Under the Rainbow is a 1981 comedy film directed by Steve Rash and starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, and Eve Arden. The movie is loosely based on an incident in which the real-life manager of the Culver Hotel left his inexperienced nephew in charge, leading to chaos and confusion.
In the film, the hotel manager's nephew, played by Mark L. Taylor, decides to rename the hotel the "Hotel Rainbow" and book it solid with a wide range of guests. These include Japanese tourists who barely speak English, a group of little people who are auditioning for roles in The Wizard of Oz, and a delegation of royal visitors from a fictional Middle Eastern country.
Amidst the chaos, Secret Service agent Bruce Thorpe (Chevy Chase) is tasked with protecting the royal visitors from a potential assassination plot. Meanwhile, casting director Annie Clark (Carrie Fisher) is in town to cast the roles of the munchkins for The Wizard of Oz.
As the various guests and their eccentricities collide, Thorpe and Clark find themselves drawn to each other, even as they try to unravel the various mysteries and conspiracies swirling around the hotel.
Under the Rainbow received mixed reviews upon its release but has since gained a cult following for its comedic performances and quirky premise. The film also features notable appearances by Billy Barty and Cork Hubbert as two of the little people auditioning for The Wizard of Oz.
