Movie Reviews of Singin' in the Rain
- "Singin' in the Rain", co-directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, lives up to its reputation as a classic, full of stellar dance performances wrapped up in a healthy dose of timeless comedy.
I first viewed this film with suspicion when I was a child, assuming that it could be nothing but boring wall-to-wall singing and dancing. I was quickly proved wrong, but it turns out that if it had been wall-to-wall singing and dancing, that would be all right because the choreography and performances are stellar. There are at least four pieces that could be that one great number in any other musical, but here are they are just the cream of a much larger crop. The dancing duties are split primarily between two virtuosos, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor (with Debbie Reynolds adding her two bits in as well). Watching these dancers work together and embrace each others styles is a joy to behold. The direction and cinematography work beautifully with the choreography as well, most notably in the iconic title song.
But the movie does go further than present wonderful musical set pieces. It's also a highly engaging story that works on multiple levels. The backdrop is the story of Hollywood moving from silent film making to sound, though to call it backdrop is almost a disservice. Many of the film's story beats are preoccupied with the hilarious challenges the actors and film makers face in this new world - a world in which one can no longer hide behind just appearances. This theme is then solidified in the primary love story between the movie star who is no longer certain if he has a place in the movies, and the rising young starlet who gets her break because of the industry's change of focus. The theme is one of false appearance which preserve dignity versus the undignified (but more meaningful) reality, and it plays out all over the place, from the plot line to the characterizations to the songs and dances.
Finally, "Singin' in the Rain" is a very funny movie, in that classic Hollywood sort-of-way. Donald O'Connor as the hero's best friend never lets up making us laugh, but the show-stealer is Jean Hagen as the Hollywood starlet of a bygone age, who will have you in stitches all the way through.
"Singin' in the Rain" is highly recommended. There are moments that are dated, to be sure, but they are more than made up for by the timeless comedy, talent, and joy that the film resonates from beginning to end.
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