Ask anyone if they have seen Singing In The Rain and they will probably answer, “Oh it’s that film where that guy (Gene Kelly) sings as he dances along the sidewalk, jumping in and out of puddles and swinging around a lamp post with an umbrella in his hands whilst it is raining, under the disapproving glare of a beat cop.” But there is much more to this film than that.
Made in 1952 by MGM and directed by Gene Kelly in conjunction with Stanley Donen, Singing In The Rain is a story of the pleasure and excitement of making talking movies in Hollywood during the twenties, of the twentieth century that is. Ably supported by a host of stars, none brighter than Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse, (her with the longest legs in Hollywood, reputedly insured for £1m) the film brings the glitz and glamour to the living room of a new audience with the same breath taking splendour as it did to cinema audiences all over the world in years gone by.
Donald O’Connor, no mean dancer himself, takes on the role of Cosmo Brown in an extravaganza, which only Hollywood (and Bollywood) could produce.
The film opens with all the glitz of a film premier of the black and white silent movie, Royal Rascal starring Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, where the stars of the film arrive in their limousines.
At the end of the film premier Don and his long-standing lady friend Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) take a bow and back stage they argue as to why she is never allowed to speak at such occasions. Her shrill voice with a heavy Brooklyn accent needs no explanation.
Running away from a crowd of admirers Don jumps into a car driven by Cathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds) and herein starts the story.
Later at a party the host shows a demonstration of a talking movie and the following cabaret has Cathy jumping out of a giant cake and joining in with a dance routine to All I Do Is Dream Of You. Don is smitten much to the shrill chagrin of Lina.
The comedy musical filmed in glorious Technicolor running for 100 minutes isn’t just a story of talking pictures but is also a love story set to music. Music like the never to be forgotten songs such as You Were Meant For Me, You Are My Lucky Star and of course the title song, Singing In The Rain.
The choreography is slick and approaching perfection, as only Hollywood is able to do and we have come to expect. You cannot help but admire the skill, dexterity and timing of the tap dancing routines as Gene, Donald and Debbie dance. But then Gene Kelly wouldn’t settle for anything less and showed boundless energy during rehearsals to achieve the perfection that we see on screen.
Now let’s see Hollywood match yesteryear with a production of today.