Singin’ in the Rain is often called the greatest musical in motion-picture history. The film is a comic satire on Hollywood moviemaking during the hectic time when sound pictures were replacing silent films in the late 1920’s. The movie has become an all-time favorite for its delightful characters, outstanding musical score, and memorable dance sequences.
Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen directed the movie. It was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with songs by Nacio Herb Brown (music) and Arthur Freed (lyrics). Singin’ in the Rain was released in 1952 and starred Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, and Jean Hagen.
The movie begins in 1927, just before talking films revolutionized Hollywood. Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) and Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) are a popular romantic team on the screen. For all her movie star glamour, Lina is a stupid, irritating woman with a tinny, grating voice. Studio publicity claims that Lina and Don are real-life sweethearts, but Don finds her obnoxious. He accidentally meets aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds), and after some initial misunderstandings, they fall in love.
One of the funniest parts of the movie involves the film studio’s efforts to adapt Lina to sound pictures in spite of her silly-sounding voice. Eventually, Don and Kathy triumph over the calculating and selfish Lina and become a romantic team, on and off the screen.
Critics have praised Singin’ in the Rain for its brilliant dance numbers featuring Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor, who plays Don Lockwood’s friend Cosmo Brown. Kelly did much of the choreography (dance composition). The most famous dance sequence is the “Broadway Melody” ballet, a long, serious number that features Kelly and Cyd Charisse. The film’s songs include the romantic “All I Do Is Dream of You,” “You Are My Lucky Star,” “You Were Meant for Me,” and the title song, “Singin’ in the Rain.” Among the rhythmic songs are “Moses,” “Fit as a Fiddle,” and “Good Morning.” One of the film’s highlights is a witty and athletic dance number by O’Connor to the song “Make ‘Em Laugh.”
Singin’ in the Rain attracted little attention when it was released. However, its reputation increased over the years with showings on television and in movie theaters that specialize in revivals.
See also Kelly, Gene ; Reynolds, Debbie .
