Singin' in the Rain

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Singin' in the Rain

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Singin' in the Rain

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell

Hollywood, 1927: the silent-film romantic team of Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) is the toast of Tinseltown. While Lockwood and Lamont personify smoldering passions onscreen, i... read more read more...n real life the down-to-earth Lockwood can't stand the egotistical, brainless Lina. He prefers the company of aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), whom he met while escaping his screaming fans. Watching these intrigues from the sidelines is Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor), Don's best pal and on-set pianist. Cosmo is promoted to musical director of Monumental Pictures by studio head R.F. Simpson (Millard Mitchell) when the talking-picture revolution commences. That's all right for Cosmo, but how will talkies affect the upcoming Lockwood-Lamont vehicle "The Dueling Cavalier"? Don, an accomplished song-and-dance man, should have no trouble adapting to the microphone. Lina, however, is another matter; put as charitably as possible, she has a voice that sounds like fingernails on a blackboard. The disastrous preview of the team's first talkie has the audience howling with derisive laughter. On the strength of the plot alone, concocted by the matchless writing team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Singin' in the Rain is a delight. But with the addition of MGM's catalog of Arthur Freed-Nacio Herb Brown songs -- "You Were Meant for Me," "You Are My Lucky Star," "The Broadway Melody," and of course the title song -- the film becomes one of the greatest Hollywood musicals ever made. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Id: 10902120

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Singin' in the Rain Recent Reviews
  • cosmo313
    February 21, 2012
    cosmo313
    I can't believe it took me so long to finally get around to watching this. Long before The Artist, this often lauded Gene Kelly musical took a stab at the world of filmmaking, particular the uneasy transition (especially for performers) from silent pictures to talkies.

    It's a w... read moreonderful (and wonderfully simple) story, but that's just fine. It's overwhelming in its charm and entertainment factor, but something really stuck out for me: this is, despite being really good, quite overrated. Yes, the musical nubers are outstanding, the singing and dancing are great, the cinematography looks beautiful, and there's some memorable sequences, but overall, this feels rather light. Also, it bugs me that most of the musicals numbers aren't really there to serve the story or move things forward.

    I also can't help but think my enjoyment of this movie was somewhat sullied due to the usage of the title song during an infamous moment in A Clockwork Orange, and that several others songs felt warmed over due to being used heavily in commercials and through references on Family Guy.

    There are some good performances though, and, the subject matter is great stuff (I'd love to read a scholarly monograph on the impact of the transition from silence to sound). The performances are pretty good, and this is pure, good natured fun, but, as I said, it doesn't quite hold up as being a masterful classic.
  • fb100001581602053
    December 30, 2011
    fb100001581602053
    Super duper dopeness. The cat's meow, the poor man's humility, THE bomb, Singin' in the Rain is one of the finest pinnacles of American cinema.
  • TomBowler
    November 20, 2011
    TomBowler
    A lot of people, often critics, will say something to the effect of, "They don't make movies like they used to." And usually I'll disagree with them. There are new, incredible films being made every year and just because times may have changed it doesn't mean that film standards ... read morehave dropped with them. However, this film is a prime example of the theory that they don't make them like they used to, because there has never been, nor will there be anything quite like Singin' in the Rain.

    Don Lockwood is a silent film actor in a world which is all too rapidly making the transition to talking pictures: "talkies." His newest film, The Dancing Cavalier, is going to prove a bigger problem due to his co-star's complete lack of singing talent. Or just the fact that when she talks you'd swear there was a cat in a blender somewhere.

    First, there's the performances. Gene Kelly plays Don Lockwood who somehow worked his way up from stuntman to leading man and is now struggling to keep it that way. Kelly is amazing: charming, smart and funny as well as having a godlike talent in a pair of tap shoes. He has the innate ability to endear himself to you the moment he opens his mouth, an old world movie star if there ever was one. Despite his natural talent, he's also able to slip into the character perfectly, keeping traces of his humble beginnings about him despite being the biggest silent film star on the planet. His double act partner, Donald O'Connor, plays Cosmo Brown, one of the musicians for the films his friend stars in. He is an absolute gem in the film, his slapstick mugging working perfectly for his over-the-top character. He and Kelly are amazing together, their lines flying by quicker than you can catch them and affecting the sort of friendship which makes you believe that they really are the best of friends. With a duller script his shameless mugging would be annoying or pathetic but here it works brilliantly. Debbie Reynolds is Kathy Selden, Don Lockwood's love interest as well as his secret weapon for the upcoming film. She's an incredible talent, not just a pretty face and a good voice but able to hold her own with the two other leads, a feat in itself. The other performers in the piece play their parts well but are merely backgrounding for the big three already mentioned. Special mention, however, goes to Jean Hagen for her woman-scorned/dullard portrayal of Lina Lamont who is hilarious and incredibly memorable for her part. However, it's the way these performers come together which is truly great to watch. Each of the three mains work together so well that it's just a joy to have them onscreen.

    Musicals often face the danger of putting everything into the songs while forgetting about story or character. But, thanks to Adolph Green and Betty Comden's screenplay, the dialogue sparkles just as brightly as the musical set-pieces. Treading the line between farce and drama, these two writers pack as much character and humour as it's possible to put into a script, creating realistic and loveable characters which have lasted the test of time. They also manage to avoid the cliched storylines and dilemmas which so often plague films of the same genre, creating something entirely original and fresh, refreshing even after fifty years of cinema.

    Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly's direction is flawless. Rather than the quick cutting and intense camera movement which is supposed to create more excitement but is really just proof of the director's lack of confidence, Kelly and Donen are content to simply enjoy the spectacle of each amazing set-piece. Their restraint is on display throughout the entire film, trusting that the audience is feeling each moment without the need for explicitly telling them.

    But despite the fact that the plot and character work is so good, the real draw of the film is the musical set-pieces. Make 'em Laugh, Good Morning, Singin' In The Rain, Gotta Dance, each piece incredible in its own right and completely awe-inspiring. The cast's astonishing ability is in full throttle here, tapping and singing like their lives depend on it. The songs themselves are brilliant but combined with the spectacle onscreen, they are simply astounding. And it's this joyous vision onscreen which is the film's biggest achievement. Singin' in the Rain is so wonderfully light and refreshing that it is a literal breath of fresh air and has been since its creation. 50 years on and it's still one of the greatest movies of all time.

    Defining Scene:
    Gene Kelly sings in the rain.

    Quotes:
    Oh Donny! You couldn't kiss me like that and not mean it just a teensy bit!
    Meet the greatest actor in the world! I'd rather kiss a tarantula.
    You don't mean that.
    I don't - - Hey Joe, get me a tarantula.

    What's wrong with the way I talk? What's the big idea? Am I dumb or something?

    Cosmo, call me a cab.
    Ok, you're a cab.

    Talking pictures, that means I'm out of a job. At last I can start suffering and write that symphony.
    You're not out of job, we're putting you in as head of our new music department.
    Oh, thanks, R.F.! At last I can stop suffering and write that symphony.

    I happen to be in love with her.
    That's ridiculous. Everbody knows your in love with me.

    Lina, you were gorgeous.
    Yeah, Lina, you looked pretty good for a girl.

    What's the matter with that girl? Can't she take a gentle hint?
    Well haven't ya heard? She's irresistible. She told me so herself.

    Short people have long faces, and long people have short faces. Big people have little humor, and little people have no humor at all.

    The price of fame. You've got the glory, you gotta take the little heartaches that go with it. Now look at me: I've got no fame, I've got no glory, I've got no big mansions, I've got no money! But I've got - what have I got?
    I don't know, what have you got?
    I gotta get out of here.

    Lina, you're a beautiful woman. Audiences think you've got a voice to match. The studio's gotta keep their stars from looking ridiculous at any cost.
    Nobody's got that much money.

    Don't tell me, it's a flat tire.
    I can't undertand it. This car hasn't given me a lick of trouble in nearly 6 hours.
  • spielberg00
    August 12, 2011
    spielberg00
    OK+
  • DreamExtractor
    August 10, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    The greatest musical in the history of film. The plot was genius and fun, the music was possibly some of the greatest of all time, and a great cast that is memorable and great. It truly desrves every bit of praise it has, I love this musical.
  • fb100000145236770
    July 23, 2011
    fb100000145236770
    I'm not much into musicals(although I've always liked "Moulin Rouge" for some reason), but this is a fantastic movie. I'm working my way through the AFI top 100, and this is number 5 on that list. I would say out of all the musicals I've watched, this is actually the best one. ... read more Made in 1952, the songs remain catchy, and the dances remain entertaining as hell. Gene Kelly was a true movie star. I was trying to think of someone today would could be his equal, and I could only come up with one, Justin Timberlake. Kelly's acting was great, his voice was perfect(especially singing the title track), and his dancing is better than most pop sensations today. My favorite character was Cosmo. He has some great little one liners and just the real subtle humor that makes for a memorable performance. A couple of the songs from this movie will probably end up on my MP3 player cause their stuck in my head. Great movie to remind people of a different era in movies and performances by true entertainers.
  • ajaymuthecooldevils
    May 16, 2011
    ajaymuthecooldevils
    #5 American Film Institute's Greatest Movie of All Time, and I thought that accomplishment for this movie wasn't an exaggeration because this movie was really good.. I'm not a big fan of musical movie, but I always appreciate them and for "Singin' In The Rain" it was a brilliant ... read morework.. Not only the cast did a great job, the choreography, the music, they're all magnificent.. I just can't say another words, I'm amazed by this movie and for this movie landed #5 American Film Institute's Greatest Movie of All Time, this movie really deserved it..
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    May 5, 2011
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Clearly not my genre, but you can't deny Kelly's skill, or Charisse's hotness.
  • lewiskendell
    February 19, 2011
    lewiskendell
    Full review later.
  • ceWEBrity
    January 24, 2011
    ceWEBrity
    Film craftsmanship of unmatched form. Anyone who says they don't like this is just trying to sound edgy, or at least doesn't know what they're talking about.
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