Singin' in the Rain

Back when movies didn't have to worry about things like cynicism and snarky film critics and moviegoers, movies like this could be made and appreciated. You watch something like this today and it seems hopelessly corny, its tagline is "What a glorious feeling!"(!!), but still, as you watch it, if you are able to get underneath the levels of pre-conceived notions most people have when they watch movies today, you will not be able to resist smiling, singing and dancing. Everyone thinks they know what this movie is about: Gene Kelly is in love with some girl and he dances in the rain because of it. End of story. This is essentially what I thought for a good many years as well, but was, to put it mildly, pleasantly surprised when I found out that the movie actually has an ingenious and engaging plot. Most movie musicals, especially considering the time period, went light on plot, as more emphasis was placed on making the song and dance numbers stand out; everything in between was merely filler, a device to get from one set piece to the next. This is where "Singin' in the Rain" distinguishes itself above all other movie musicals. Thanks to legendary producer Arthur Freed, "Singin' in the Rain" is a fully realized film, not only arguably the greatest musical ever, but one of the greatest movies ever. Freed was a legend at MGM, demanding that his product be the best, and he made this happen by securing the top talent in every area, allowing creative geniuses like Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen, Betty Comden and Adolph Green carte blance during production. Making a name for himself as a songwriter, Freed knew what went into making a musical picture, and thus he refrained from meddling, as so many of the golden age moguls loved to do, instead letting the artists do what they do. When the results are as great as "Singin' in the Rain", it is hard to argue with his methods.

Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) is a big star in silent Hollywood. He and his on screen partner, Lina Lamont, are worshipped by star crazy movie fans (another fad not unique to the later 20th century). At the after party for their newest picture, 'The Dueling Cavalier', the studio chief (an extremely benevolent RF, only in the movies) introduces the crowd to the newest cinematic technology, synchronized sound for motion pictures. Everyone laughs and dismisses it at first, but when the grosses for "The Jazz Singer" come in, RF decides 'The Dueling Cavalier' must be remade with sound. Needless to say, hilarity ensues. There is a wonderful scene where the cast finds all types of problems concerning the placement of microphones, and then there is the small matter of Lina's voice. Allegedly based on the shrill, Brooklyn-accented Clara Bow, Lina Lamont's voice is like nails on a chalkboard. Ignorant to all of these inherent problems, the cast and crew re-release 'The Dueling Cavalier' and the audience finds new meaning for the words "unintentionally funny". Don is depressed, Lina is indifferent, and RF develops an ulcer. However, Don's friend, and studio piano player/clown (again, only in the movies would a job like this exist) Cosmo has the bright idea to make 'The Dueling Cavalier' into 'The Dancing Cavalier'. But what to do about Lina's voice?

Enter chorus girl Kathy Seldon. After losing her job, thanks to the impossible Lina, Don and Cosmo convince Kathy to secretly dub the speaking and singing voice of Lina's character. Kathy reluctantly agrees, and during this time Don and Kathy fall in love. Two of the movie's greatest songs are featured in these few scenes, "Good Morning", and the legendary title number. However Lina finds out and she threatens to bury Kathy and the studio thanks to a loophole in her contract. This being a movie musical though, Don inexplicably tells the entire premiere audience who the real voice of Lina's character is, and the audience embraces her, which is apparently enough to shut Lina up and insure everyone their happy ending. The silly ending aside, this movie stands alone among movie musicals not only because of the classic songs, compiled from the MGM catalogue, but also because of the strong comedy which runs throughout. The early scenes of Don and Cosmo breaking into Hollywood are hysterical, Cosmo's song "Make 'Em Laugh" and Don and Cosmo's duet "Moses" are hilarious numbers, and even though she plays a tyrant, Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont does brilliant work (receiving the film's only acting nomination). There really is no area of the film that is weak. It can be looked upon as the crowning acheivement in the careers of everyone involved, even Freed himself donated his own songs that he wrote some 20 years before to the film and honestly, they never sounded better. This is THE movie musical of Old Hollywood.