Singin' in the Rain (A+ or 4/4 stars)
Watching Singin' in the Rain, co-directed by Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen, is a magical experience. I know macho guys in their 20s who love the film. I know 85 yr. old women who adore it. That is all a testament to the craftsmanship of the filmmakers, the stellar screenwriting, the athleticism of the dancing, & the charisma of the performers. Singin' in the Rain takes us to Hollywood, 1927: a time & place when the film industry was abandoning silent films in favor of "talkies".
The plot focuses on the silent film romantic team of Don Lockwood & Lina Lamont (Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen) who are the toast of the town. While 'Lockwood & Lamont' personify passion onscreen and have fans convinced that their relationship extends beyond theaters, in real life, Lockwood can't stand the egotistical, mega-annoying, babbling, brainless Lina. Don prefers sweet aspiring actress/chorus line girl, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), whom he met while escaping screaming fans. Watching all of this from the sidelines is Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor), Don's best buddy/on-set pianist. When the first "talkie" becomes a hit, the stars of the latest Lockwood/Lamont flick, 'The Dueling Cavalier', are coached in vocal technique in an attempt at a talkie ... but the results are a disaster.
See, Don, a song-&-dance man, had little trouble adapting to the microphone. But his grandiose use of gestures is more suited for the silent era. Worse yet, it is discovered that Lina's voice sounds like fingernails on a blackboard. And test audiences laugh 'The Dueling Cavalier' right off the screen. Clearly, they have to refine their "talkie" techniques. All this while, Don & Kathy have fallen in love. After an all-night brainstorming session, Don, Kathy, & good 'ole Cosmo decide to turn the production into an all-out musical, dubbing Kathy's voice for Lina's. But obvious problems arise. Lina wants her voice to be heard, the actors forget where the microphones are, & other various stumbling blocks ensue. You can bet that everything works out in the end, but boy-oh-boy is it fun watching it all unfold.
Although Singin' in the Rain is a big, beautiful, lighthearted romp, it actually recalls genuine issues that arose in Hollywood during 1927, when many silent-film stars feared the arrival of "talkies". Many of those stars couldn't make the transition. And some of the humorous incidents that we see occur in this movie on the set of 'The Dueling Cavalier' are based on actual anecdotes related by crewmembers who had also participated in those early talkies. Life imitated art & vice-versa.
As a straight-up movie musical, Singin' in the Rain is smashing. There are 14 songs used throughout the film Singin' in the Rain, including the fantastic titular number. And 3 original songs include "Moses Supposes", "Make 'Em Laugh", & "Be a Clown". Interestingly enough, good as the music is, the most invigorating aspect of the movie is the dancing. Gene Kelly's choreography is energetic, grand & show-stopping; all conveyed with infectious enthusiasm. The 2 most memorable sequences include Donald O'Connor's slapstick/gag-filled, gravity-defying rendition of "Make 'Em Laugh" and, of course, Gene Kelly's unforgettable ode to love while singing, dancing & splashing in an evening rain. Not only is the sequence incredible, but it expresses a child-like wonder & je ne sais quoi emotion that most people can only ever experience in a movie theater looking up at a big screen. It is probably the most iconic sequence from any Movie Musical, well, ever.
Singin' in the Rain was filmed in Technicolor & the sets/costumes are suitably gorgeous. This is particularly true during the 14-min. "Broadway Rhythm" section, a fantasy sequence where Gene Kelly plays a young dancer who arrives in NY & finds himself embroiled in a rivalry with a gangster for the affections of sultry Cyd Charisse {yowwwza!}. The concept of this sequence, the imagination of the sets, the brilliant choreography ... all movie magic.
This movie also works well as comedy; thanks to the genius wits of scripters: Comden & Green. There are tons of hysterical one-liners. I'm reminded of one where Lina says, "Why, I make more money than ... than Calvin Coolidge ... put together!". And the funniest moment of all occurs during the filming of the 1st talking scene for 'The Dueling Cavalier', where the agitated director can't figure out what to do with Lina & her microphone.
Gene Kelly exudes fun, warmth & joy as Don Lockwood; and this film represents the pinnacle of his career. Donald O'Connor is wonderful as Don's goofball pal, Cosmo; and he was an inspired choice to appear opposite of the star, in large part because his dancing skills nearly matched Kelly's. Debbie Reynolds is adorable as Kathy. And Jean Hagen is the definition of a perfect comic caricature (ditzy, squeaky voice, Brooklyn accent). I absolutely loved her -- loved to hate her, loved to hear her, loved to watch her. And the climactic scene where an adoring audience wants to hear Lina sing LIVE in front of them is one of my favorite moments. It's a goose bump inducing hoot; especially how the scene plays out with her, Don, & a teary-eyed Kathy.
Singin' in the Rain provides quintessential feel-good entertainment (superb singing, dancing, craftsmanship). And spending 2 hours in the company of such talents as Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen & Cyd Charisse is an easy decision to make. Very few motion pictures can provide & convey as much unabashed cinematic exuberance as this one. I think it's of the greatest Hollywood musicals ever made.
The plot focuses on the silent film romantic team of Don Lockwood & Lina Lamont (Gene Kelly, Jean Hagen) who are the toast of the town. While 'Lockwood & Lamont' personify passion onscreen and have fans convinced that their relationship extends beyond theaters, in real life, Lockwood can't stand the egotistical, mega-annoying, babbling, brainless Lina. Don prefers sweet aspiring actress/chorus line girl, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), whom he met while escaping screaming fans. Watching all of this from the sidelines is Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor), Don's best buddy/on-set pianist. When the first "talkie" becomes a hit, the stars of the latest Lockwood/Lamont flick, 'The Dueling Cavalier', are coached in vocal technique in an attempt at a talkie ... but the results are a disaster.
See, Don, a song-&-dance man, had little trouble adapting to the microphone. But his grandiose use of gestures is more suited for the silent era. Worse yet, it is discovered that Lina's voice sounds like fingernails on a blackboard. And test audiences laugh 'The Dueling Cavalier' right off the screen. Clearly, they have to refine their "talkie" techniques. All this while, Don & Kathy have fallen in love. After an all-night brainstorming session, Don, Kathy, & good 'ole Cosmo decide to turn the production into an all-out musical, dubbing Kathy's voice for Lina's. But obvious problems arise. Lina wants her voice to be heard, the actors forget where the microphones are, & other various stumbling blocks ensue. You can bet that everything works out in the end, but boy-oh-boy is it fun watching it all unfold.
Although Singin' in the Rain is a big, beautiful, lighthearted romp, it actually recalls genuine issues that arose in Hollywood during 1927, when many silent-film stars feared the arrival of "talkies". Many of those stars couldn't make the transition. And some of the humorous incidents that we see occur in this movie on the set of 'The Dueling Cavalier' are based on actual anecdotes related by crewmembers who had also participated in those early talkies. Life imitated art & vice-versa.
As a straight-up movie musical, Singin' in the Rain is smashing. There are 14 songs used throughout the film Singin' in the Rain, including the fantastic titular number. And 3 original songs include "Moses Supposes", "Make 'Em Laugh", & "Be a Clown". Interestingly enough, good as the music is, the most invigorating aspect of the movie is the dancing. Gene Kelly's choreography is energetic, grand & show-stopping; all conveyed with infectious enthusiasm. The 2 most memorable sequences include Donald O'Connor's slapstick/gag-filled, gravity-defying rendition of "Make 'Em Laugh" and, of course, Gene Kelly's unforgettable ode to love while singing, dancing & splashing in an evening rain. Not only is the sequence incredible, but it expresses a child-like wonder & je ne sais quoi emotion that most people can only ever experience in a movie theater looking up at a big screen. It is probably the most iconic sequence from any Movie Musical, well, ever.
Singin' in the Rain was filmed in Technicolor & the sets/costumes are suitably gorgeous. This is particularly true during the 14-min. "Broadway Rhythm" section, a fantasy sequence where Gene Kelly plays a young dancer who arrives in NY & finds himself embroiled in a rivalry with a gangster for the affections of sultry Cyd Charisse {yowwwza!}. The concept of this sequence, the imagination of the sets, the brilliant choreography ... all movie magic.
This movie also works well as comedy; thanks to the genius wits of scripters: Comden & Green. There are tons of hysterical one-liners. I'm reminded of one where Lina says, "Why, I make more money than ... than Calvin Coolidge ... put together!". And the funniest moment of all occurs during the filming of the 1st talking scene for 'The Dueling Cavalier', where the agitated director can't figure out what to do with Lina & her microphone.
Gene Kelly exudes fun, warmth & joy as Don Lockwood; and this film represents the pinnacle of his career. Donald O'Connor is wonderful as Don's goofball pal, Cosmo; and he was an inspired choice to appear opposite of the star, in large part because his dancing skills nearly matched Kelly's. Debbie Reynolds is adorable as Kathy. And Jean Hagen is the definition of a perfect comic caricature (ditzy, squeaky voice, Brooklyn accent). I absolutely loved her -- loved to hate her, loved to hear her, loved to watch her. And the climactic scene where an adoring audience wants to hear Lina sing LIVE in front of them is one of my favorite moments. It's a goose bump inducing hoot; especially how the scene plays out with her, Don, & a teary-eyed Kathy.
Singin' in the Rain provides quintessential feel-good entertainment (superb singing, dancing, craftsmanship). And spending 2 hours in the company of such talents as Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen & Cyd Charisse is an easy decision to make. Very few motion pictures can provide & convey as much unabashed cinematic exuberance as this one. I think it's of the greatest Hollywood musicals ever made.