A silent film star falls in love with a chorus girl, set to the backdrop of the arrival of sound in films...
Currently Dundee Contemporary Arts are showing a series of classic musicals. In truth, with a few exceptions I wouldn't call myself a huge fan of the genre. However, there is one that I can watch over and over again and it always works for me. And that is Singin' In The Rain.
As with a number of people I first saw it on TV. And like most have loved it ever since. But it's a film I've wanted to see on the cinema screen since I started going to the cinema on a regular basis. The last time it was being giving a screening I missed it. But this time? Not a chance.
Singin' In The Rain is often regarded as the greatest musical ever made. It really is hard to argue against it.
But what makes it so good? Well first, the songs are brillant. Moses Supposes, Good Morning, Make The Laugh and the timeless Singin' In The Rain itself are purely great songs. But when you add some simply amazing dancing from the three leads, it takes them to another level.
The story, set against the arrival of sound in film deals with, in a humorous way, the effect it will have on the actors. The disastrous screening (in the film) of the film, The Duelling Cavalier, and the failing of its sound is a still consistently funny. The actress, Lina Lamont (brilliantly played by Jean Hagen), is not allowed to make public comments because of her voice, which, of course, becomes a plot point in the film.
But for me the secret to what makes Singin' In The Rain such a great film is the sense of fun running throughout. It's a joyous film, one that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face while watching it. It's also a funnier film than you may think or recall.
The performances from the cast are outstanding. Gene Kelly brings all his talent and charm to bear as Don Lockwood, the silent film star. We all know he can sing and dance brilliantly, but I think what sometimes gets overlooked is just how good an actor he was and here he's tremendous. He's matched by Donald O'Connor as his friend Cosmo Brown. Like Kelly he can sing and dance very well and he's just as good an actor too. Debbie Reynolds plays Kathy, the woman Don falls in love with and while the stories of being bullied by Kelly as she couldn't dance well are well known, it doesn't show in her performance as she holds her own in the singing and acting side.
In fact the stories behind the scenes are incredible. O'Connor filmed the brilliant, 'Make Them Laugh' and was so physically worn out after, he spent days in bed after...only to have to repeat it all again. Kelly was suffering a fever when he shot the iconic 'Singin' In The Rain' number. It's doubtful many actors today would be willing to do that.
The direction both of the dance numbers and the 'acting' scenes is first rate from Kelly and Stanley Donen. The songs are brilliant, the dancing even better. It's funny, it's romantic and just great fun.
But if I were being very picky, I would say that the final big musical number, the 'Broadway Melody' scene, featuring Cyd Charisse, although spectacular, does seem like an afterthought. But as I said, this is me being very picky as in every other aspect, the film is damn near perfect.
It's fun, it's breezy, it makes you smile, including this Grump. Not many films can manage that! Every time I watch Singin' In The Rain, be it from the start, or happen to turn it on and simply watch from then, it just reminds me of how good film can be. It's by far the greatest golden-era musical of them all and one of the greatest films I have ever seen.
It is without doubt a masterpiece.
Rating - 5/5
Before the screening, the DCA had a rather touching tribute to Debbie Reynolds who died recently. It ended with a shot of her with her daughter, Carrie Fisher, who died one day earlier. It was very well done indeed. The screening of the film was scheduled before her passing, but it was a great way to honour her memory.
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