Directors: Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen
Original Release: 1952
Choice: Mine
My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5
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| via Wikipedia |
If we have a favorite Family Movie Night movie, it is most certainly Singin' in the Rain. It is the movie that has been picked most often and has been chosen by each of us at least once. Yes, I keep stats.
Singin' in the Rain is a movie for people who love movies. It is the fictionalized account of one of the industry's great transitions: the emergence of "talkies," motion pictures synchronized with sound. Don Lockwood (played by Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are the silent film stars. Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) is the ingenue who catches Don's eye and Lina's ire. Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) is Don's goofy sidekick. Many of the characters are based on real-life actors who struggled to survive in the new landscape brought on by the advent of sound.
My own feelings about the film are the reverse of my feelings for last week's feature. In this case, I feel the story is stronger than the music. The songs are catchy but, in the grand tradition of show tunes, a little too catchy. The witty dialogue sparkles and the acting is delightful, especially from Hagen and the show-stealing O'Connor:
The real treat of Singin' in the Rain, however, is the dancing. Obviously, no less than genius should be expected from Kelly in that regard but O'Connor matches him step for step. Keeping up was a much taller order for Debbie Reynolds. Apparently, Kelly was horrible to her regarding the dance numbers. Reynolds, however, had an unexpected savior. Fred Astaire found her crying under a piano in the studio one day and offered to help.
The central plot involves Kathy dubbing Lina's voice in the new talkies. In a cruel twist, Singin' in the Rain was also dubbed. When Kathy dubs Lina, Jean Hagen's natural voice is used instead, for both singing and speaking. When Kathy sings as herself, she is usually dubbed by the uncredited Betty Noyes. Debbie Reynolds's natural singing voice is only heard in her one sung line of "You Are My Lucky Star."
After the movie ended, Our Girl asked if there were more Gene Kelly movies. We reminded her that she's actually seen a couple of them: An American in Paris and The Three Musketeers. Given her interest, I expect I will be featuring more of his work over the coming months.
Hi Armchair. This is one of the very few productions I was in when at High School. Was fun and we all sang those songs with gusto rather than talent.
ReplyDeleteI gave you a shout out in my second to last post. You may like to read it:
http://laussieswritingblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/writing-bookreviews-10-tips.html
Denise
As one who directs such shows, I'll take gusto over talent anytime.
DeleteThanks for the plug - sound advice, too.
I love this movie. The talent in this film is amazing. So many memorable dance and song spots to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Definitely not your typical movie musical, either.
DeleteYour family movie night sounds like wonderful fun. Your Girl will have precious memories of this.
ReplyDeleteI love Singin' in the Rain.
What's interesting to me is how her involvement has changed over time. At first, she just didn't know many movies so there was a lot of guidance. Then she was eager to stick to the ones we'd already seen because she still didn't know much beyond them. Right now, she's really keen to find new stuff and the avenues she's taken to seek them out have been really interesting. I'm genuinely excited to see what she picks next, and why!
DeleteSingin' In The Rain is one of my very favorite movie—and "Make 'em Laugh" probably my favorite numbers from that movie. I used to show it to my kids when I was teaching. They always started off complaining, but loved it by the end.
ReplyDeleteI've had similar experiences when sharing it with students. And that is the song that hooks them. If they're not into the movie before "Make 'Em Laugh," they certainly are afterward.
DeleteI showed this one to my kids recently, and they loved it. I mean, they really loved it, and my daughter especially loved the scene you have here. We actually rented some Francis the Talking Mule afterward because she loved O'Conner so much.
ReplyDeleteI have the movie slated for review but haven't gotten to it yet.
One thing I will say: There was no need for The Artist. Singing tells that same story so much better.
I have not seen The Artist. It's in the queue, though. We'll get to it at some point.
DeleteI particularly like the "Make 'em Laugh" sequence, but the whole thing is a masterpiece...good pic:)
ReplyDeleteSure is. It didn't make much noise in its original release either. Like a fine wine, it has only improved with age.
DeleteCan you imagine having Fred Astaire find you crying under the piano only to console you? What a great trivia tidbit. I really enjoyed that.
ReplyDeleteLovely, your response to Michelle (Remembering Grace) about your daughter. One of my favorite things about this stage is the growing independence and the sense that our own daughter will surprise us with her thoughts, jokes, ambitions and perceptions.
The Astaire story really is great, isn't it? Astaire and Kelly are inexorably linked anyway. This tale sets off the contrast in their personalities perfectly.
DeleteI find it funny that so much dubbing was going on in Hollywood back then, when today we always out a lip-syncer on stage. I'm sure you know that Natalie Wood had her singing voice dubbed in West Side Story. There's nothing more intimidating than snapping! Anyway, loved Singin' in the Rain. Little Rainbow and I took in Cleopatra with Liz Taylor this past weekend. Now, that's a long movie with no singing to move it along. She loved it!
ReplyDeleteIn fact, Marni Nixon, who dubbed for Hepburn in My Fair Lady, did the same for Natalie Wood in West Side Story. Ms. Nixon will come up again in my little stroll...
DeleteGlad to hear Cleopatra went over well. I've never seen that one.
A silent dancer appeared in more than one Kelly film, usually as a stabilizing influence as she did in "Singing In The Rain". Cyd Charisse as Gene Kelly's dance partner in the "Broadway Melody" ballet displays a degree of grace, drama and athleticism that was rare in musical theatre at the time.
ReplyDeleteShe really owns the screen in that sequence, doesn't she?
DeleteHave never seen this either. Closest would be A Clockwork Orange. And I imagine that they're somewhat...different.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Yes, definitely different. Only the use of the song connects them. I've never seen Clockwork Orange, though I have read the book. I know enough to understand your reference.
DeletePut Singin' in the Rain on the must see list, Tony. Loads of fun.