If you are looking for an English movie that is just like your typical Bollywood masala movie, then ‘Singing in the Rain’ is for you!! It is a typical good old Hollywood musical with loads of romance, songs and comedy!!
I have always known the song ‘I’m singing in the rain…’ from my mom who loves old English numbers… So when this movie was first to be shown on TNT (good old TNT channel – I miss it so much!!), I had the date reserved in my diary… And the movie did not let me down at all!!
Those who don’t want to know the story may skip this para now, I am writing a spoiler!! :)) Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) is a much-admired silent movie superstar whose studio has linked his name with his on-screen co-star, the super-dumb Lina Lamarr (Jean Hagen) with a super-squeaky voice! When he finally seems to meet a girl who hasn’t heard a bit about him, the cute Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), his ego is hurt. But things work out between them when she confesses to being a movie-addict and an aspiring movie star herself! Suddenly, there is sound in the movies! How do the silent film industry’s superstars suddenly cope deal with the ‘sound barrier’ forms the rest of the funny story line…
‘Singing in the Rain’ has fabulous performances from all the main stars: Gene Kelly, at his special best in the dance sequence of ‘Singing in the Rain’, Jean Hagen’s Lina Lamarr is utterly believably and lovably dumb . Debbie Reynolds manages to keeps her step with the twinkle-toed dance performances of Gene and Donald O’Connor, who plays Gene Kelly’s best friend Cosmo in the movie!
Even the music is wonderful, the best numbers in the movie being ‘Singing in the Rain’ (but obviously!) and ‘Good Morning’!!! Donald O’Connor’s performance in ‘Make em Laugh’ is a visual treat!!!
Why must u watch this movie – just to get a feel of the lovely and fun-filled Hollywood of yesteryears!!
The only negative in the movie – the song-story sequence recited by Gene somewhere towards the end that is more than 15 minutes long. Though it has a beautiful guest appearance by the ethereal Cyd Charisse, 15 minutes of song and dance is too much even for us Indians to cope with!! ;)
But overall, a must-watch entertainer for the whole family!