Singin in the Rain - 1952

Singin' in the Rain is one of the best movies ever made. The film is beautiful, tuneful, and loads of fun. While it pokes fun at Hollywood it also does so with great love. Little bits and pieces of Hollywood lore find their way into this great film and it's a pleasure to view this movie.

The star trio is just perfect: Gene Kelly give a funny performance as the hammy silent actor; Donald O'Connor makes the most of his "second banana" role; Debbie Reynolds is perfect as the ingénue trying to break into films. The three stars perform many memorable numbers, including Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain" classic; all three in the "Good Mornin'" number; O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh"; and Kelly and Reynolds in "You Were Meant for Me." The masterpiece however may be the "Gotta Dance" production number with Kelly and Cyd Charisse—just perfect. Also great fun are O'Connor and Kelly in "Fit as a Fiddle" and "Moses Supposes."

 The screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Without their screenplay the movie does not get made. It is a great script that was made better by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donens' fluid direction. They have used the period in film history during the transition to sound movies and embroidered it with the wonderful songs. The icing on the cake, of course is the choreography of Kelly and Donen.

What makes "Singin'" such an entertaining classic is its superb integration of comedy and music. Jean Hagen gives the performance of her life as the vocally challenged silent film star, Lena Lamont. Every scene she's in is a comic gem. Her "fingernails on a blackboard" voice and massacre of the English language make her a figure of ridicule. However, in the end when she finally gets her comeuppance, one can't help feeling a little sorry for her.

I recommended this movie to all age groups, it pure entertainment and also shows how acting isn’t as easy as we think. The actors have put a lot of effort into this movie which is the main loveable highlight.

Verdict 4.5/5

Singin in the Rain (1952)

Stars: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds

Run time: 1hr 43 mins

Directors: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

Genre: Musical, Comedy, Romance