Reviewed by Lars Lindahl (larsattacks@mail.com)
"Singin' in the Rain" (1952) **** (out of four)
Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly Written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, and Rita Moreno
Very rarely does a movie have it all. It's almost impossible to find a film (or anything for that matter) that contains a perfect mixture of whatever elements it attempts to combine. Whenever one of these gems is released, word of mouth travels quickly and you've got yourself a classic. The perfect film must attract all types seeking all styles of film genre; Singin' in the Rain is the perfect film. With the best choreography I have ever seen, the most pleasant songs I've ever heard in a movie, a sweet romance that is simple and believable, a pair of laugh-‘til-you-can't-see-straight performers, a flawless plot structure, an amazingly creative set design, bright colorful photography, the unmatchable wit and charm of a consummate Hollywood hero, and a bearably brief (but not too brief) running time, Singin' in the Rain is the ideal model for a complete picture. It's not missing anything, because it has everything.
What I love about this movie is that despite being known as primarily a-song-and-dance production, the plot is actually as interesting as the main attraction. Unlike other pictures that create some lame excuses to have a variety of characters tap dance on tables, this movie actually makes sense. And also unlike other movies which try to hard to create a decent plot and thus widen the gaps between musical numbers, Singin' in the Rain is as balanced as can be. There was never a point where I grew tired of the dialogue and prayed for the music to start up again or a point where I prayed for the music to end and the dialogue to proceed, it felt like the director built the movie customarily for me and my desires (And the fact that this movie was made almost half a century ago and still is a joy to watch just shows that quality can survive for an eternity).
The film begins with Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), two famous silent movie stars thriving in the 1920's with the same amount of popularity as a Backstreet Boy in our present time. But there careers are endangered when technology in filmmaking has advanced and the two actors are forced to face the ultimate test: having to star in one of the first talking pictures ever. Both actors eventually progress on different paths; Lockwood has an innate knack for carrying a film, talking or not. Lamont, on the other hand, an annoying, selfish, pompous brat with an unusually high pitched voice that would kill her career if heard on film, has a little more difficulty with the transition in cinema. When the two actors make a disastrous film that bombs at a test screening, changes definitely must be made before a wide theatrical release. At the last moment, Lockwood and friends decide to meticulously edit the film by making it into a musical with Lamont's voice replaced by his non-celebrity girlfriend's Kathy Selden(Debbie Reyolds). But how will Lamont respond when she hears about this change?
The acting in Singin' in the Rain is first rate. Gene Kelly is excellent as the big-time movie star who just wants to be treated like an average Joe. And because of his character's desire and mannerisms, it is quite easy to relate to him. Donald O'Connor steals the show as Cosmo Brown, friend and co-worker of Don Lockwood. Providing comic relief, O'Connor completes his job with a huge smile on his face the whole time. Delivering one liners with the same dexterity as a Marx Brother (when responding to the command `Call me a cab,' Cosmo quickly responds: `OK, you're a cab'), every time he is on the screen, even without any lines, he is the center of attention - and every time he's not present, you wonder where he is. Cosmo has got to be one of the most likeable characters in any movie. Jean Hagen is also extraordinary in a villainous role that is both funny and evil at the same time. One noteworthy scene places Lina Lamont at the hands of a speech teacher with hilarious consequences a la Pygmalion.
Even if you haven't seen the movie, you know the songs. You've watched the main characters in A Clockwork Orange or North By Northwest imitate Gene Kelly's famous `Singin' in the Rain' bit and you've probably uncontrollably whistled the tune at the sight of a raindrop. I know I have. Other ballads accompany the titular song that are equally `whistle worthy.' `Make ‘Em Laugh,' `All I Do Is Dream of You' `Good Morning,' and `Moses' are all unforgettable. The only major complaint in this category is that you may have some of these songs stuck in your head for an unbearably long amount of time.
Most of the songs are supplemented by unbelievable dancing. It is the dancing that makes these tunes look even better then they already are. The choreography is stunning, period. The three main characters, Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds each show their amazing talents with extremely fast feet gliding accurately synchronized with the person dancing alongside of them. Kelly is a natural at what he did; when he accomplished the most difficult moves, it seemed like he had not trouble at all. O'Connor is just as good as his co-star and during his hilarious `Make ‘Em Laugh' solo, watching this slapstick performance in which he runs up walls and dances with inanimate objects, you'll have a huge smile plastered on your face guaranteed. Reynolds also shows she can work right next to these two virtuosos during the `Good Morning' segment. Never missing a step, she gets brownie points for accomplishing the routine in high heels. But nothing compares to Gene Kelly's renowned `Singin' in the Rain' performance. As he swings his umbrella and stomps in puddles, you know exactly how he feels the whole time – he's in love, who cares about the weather?
I'd dance and sing in the rain for Singin' in the Rain. Each time I see it, I am forced into happiness. Any movie that does this has to be perfect. Otherwise what other reason is there to see a movie?
Grade: **** (out of four)
Lars Attacks! A teenager attacks past and present cinema http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/larsattacks
larsattacks@mail.com (c) 2000 Lars Lindahl
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