1952
Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly
You are no longer allowed to read this blog if you have not seen this movie. Actually, I have so few readers that I really need to hang on to the ones I have. All right, you are allowed to keep reading if you haven't seen it. But just know that I am silently resenting your presence. Go watch it!
This is probably one of the most cheerful movies ever made (even if A Clockwork Orange ruined the title song a bit for me). If you can listen to "Good Morning" and "Singin' in the Rain" without smiling you are a very cold person. Wow, I am making a lot of judgements with this post. I am extremely cranky with a hole in my heart that only ice cream can fill.
This film has been parodied many, many times. Off the top of my head:
Of course, parodies are never as good as the original. Watch this film is truly an unforgivable experience whether it be from watching Kelly's dances or watching O'Connor defy gravity.
Another layer of enjoyment is added if you actually know what they are talking about. The film's main focus is on the shift from silent to sound movies. There are some references that only someone is has studied the era can get. The film isn't esoteric, but it is fun to understand the inside jokes.
Go watch it and if it is your first time, don't let anyone know it or jerks will judge you (see above).
RATING: *****
Interesting Facts:
Fred Astaire helped Debbie Reynolds with her dancing after he found her crying one day because of Gene Kelly's insults.
The "Make 'Em Laugh" routine was so exhausting that O'Connor was hospitalized after filming it.
#5 in AFI's top 100.
I love singing in the rain despite Gene Kelly and despite the dancing. It is fun, the songs are great and the story is truly interesting. This would have been a far more worthy winner than An American in Paris the year before.
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly interesting after following the List and having the historical context.
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