Singin’ in the Rain is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is such a feel-good movie dripping with 20′s Hollywood glamour, that I just cannot help but smile every time I watch it. It’s simultaneously a buddy comedy and a romcom. It truly celebrates the joy of film-making and is probably the ultimate musical.
In Singin’ in the Rain Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) and Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) are silent movie stars at the break of the transition into talking movies. The movie studio is faced with a problem of how to make a musical with an actress who is a triple-threat (can’t act nor sing nor dance)? And whose speaking voice is higher than Mickey Mouse’s on helium. Not to worry – the solution is just around the corner popping out of a birthday cake in the form of a lovely unknown actress (Debbie Reynolds) who can do all the above and then some.
Singin’ in the Rain has been quoted as the best Hollywood musical ever made and it truly is brilliant. The transitions between dialog and dance / musical numbers are seamless. This is the first musical where the songs were actually incorporated into the plot in the way that they enhance the characters’ emotions instead of being a separate part of the movie. And c’mon Singin’ in the Rain has Gene Kelly – the dancing genius who could dance socks of anybody and everybody.
The most famous scene of the movie is ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ in which Gene Kelly literally sings and dances in the rain. Gene Kelly once said when asked about how he was going to approach this scene: ‘It’s going to be raining and I’m going to be singing. I am going to have a glorious feeling and I am going to be happy again.’ As easy as that when you’ve got amazing chops! My favorite scene in the movie is the one with Kelly, O’Connor and Reynolds singing ‘Good Morning’. Now how brilliant and clever use of a living room is that…
Gene Kelly holds such a charisma that during the dance numbers you cannot take your eyes away from him. He co-directed and choreographed the movie. So it’s no wonder that Singin’ in the Rain is considered by many to be Kelly’s masterpiece. Donald O’Connor as Cosmo delivers fantastic slapstick comedy especially in the “Make ‘Em Laugh” number. He went on to win the 1952 Golden Globe award for “Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical or Comedy” for his performance. Debbie Reynolds as Kathy was only 19 years old at the time of filming Singin’ in the Rain. Gene Kelly, whose character falls in love with her character in the movie, was 40 years old at the time. But who’s judging, as I cannot get bored with this movie and sure will be singing and dancing (in my mind) for the years to come. And you just might be bonkers if you have not yet watched Singin’ in the Rain!
Photos: Singing in the Rain
