It was actually Donald O'Connor who taught her how to dance for that film. She said that in a couple of interviews. He was really the unsung hero of this picture. In many ways. A well deserved Golden Globe.
My first real glimpse of Debbie was voicing the title character in Charolette’s Web. Then the Halloweentown movies then Rugrats then Kim Possible. But I didn’t see Singing in the Rain until I was 21
"Why did she take the job?" Because on those days, under a studio contract, if you said no to a project it could mean suspension with no pay. Reynolds wasn't rich at the time. Saying that Debbie is ungrateful and a back-stabber is so wrong. She knows Gene Kelly was a genious dancer and choreographer. But, at the same time, she's entitled to say things the way she experienced them.
Debbie is an encyclopaedia of the great Hollywood era and love listening to all the anecdotes she reveals about the behind the scenes of those great stars she has worked with. Thank you Debbie and thanks so much for posting.
I'm so happy that the new generation knows Debbie Reynolds from Holloween Town you will be missed beautiful lady ❤️ But your Mother's Heart ❤️ couldn't bare losing your beloved Carrie may you both R.I.P.
I love singin in the rain!!! It was my 8th grade musical and will always hold a special place in my heart. Gene Kelly Debbie Renolds are just legends and they will live on forever!💖
There's nothing more painful than losing a child no matter how old they are. Debbie was a very talented actress, but obviously a mother first. I feel so bad for her son Todd. I hope he finds some peace through all this.
RIP Debbie! I have seen the movie four times in the last six years. And it surprisingly hasn’t aged much in almost 70 years! I was 21 when I first saw Singing in the Rain now I’m 27. But my inner 90’s baby will always love Debbie even more as Grandma Aggie in Halloweentown.
What a fantastic lady and talent we lost all the way around. Debbie will be missed so much by all. DEBBIE WAS SENSATIONAL IN LIFE. I ALWAYS WAS A HUGE FAN OF HERS I ALWAYS WILL BE.
I've never seen such a Beautiful lady with this age ! She was gorgeous a true Legend, RIP Debby Reynolds and also her beautiful daugther Carry. You are together now.
Singin' in the Rain is my favorite movie of all time. Watching Debbie Reynolds keep up with Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor (two of the greatest dancers of the 20th century, I might add) in "Good Morning" is mesmerizing! I would have loved to have been there on set for even just a day and see what it was like during the golden age of cinema.
She definitely was young and inexperienced, but it does NOT show in her performance in this film. And not just in her hard-earned dancing ability, but in her acting as well. The scene where Gene Kelly starts to come onto her while she's driving, and she gradually realizes what he's doing and responds by cleverly criticizing his movie performances, is terrific. She handles it with great skill and nuance, and makes it funny.
Gene Kelly didn't have a choice L.B. Mayer said it was Debbie Reynolds or else & of course he was a task master he had to bring the movie in on budget or face the music with the studio so he did what they expected if anyone was to blame for what Debbie endured it was L.B. Mayer & the Studio, but kudos for Debbie for seeing it through!
Here are the some interesting facts about the singing and the dubbing for the movie.." Singing in the Rain".. Debbie Reynolds did sing on the number ' Good Mornin" and her characters rendition of "Singing in the Rain".. , Reynolds other songs were dubbed by Betty Noyes.. The character played by Reynolds ( Kathy) was supposed to be dubbing the character Lina Lamont's speaking voice.. However, the actress ( Jean Hagen) who portrayed Lina Lamont dubbed in her OWN speaking voice..
Lovely Debbie Reynolds, you made so many people in this world happy with your lovely singing and acting (remember TAMMY?) rest in peace, sweetheart xxx we all LOVED you in Will and Grace (as Graces Mother) saying I told you so..I told you so....
I totally understand where you are coming from! My point being is that it wasn't Gene that was so hard on Debbie- it was the dancing! All choreographers are tough task-masters, because dancing is tough (just like any other physical activity). Some of the routines that he did with Cyd Charisse would have been just as 'rough to dance with' and 'had bruises all over your body' if she'd had a different partner but the same choreography! It's the dance that sets the difficulty- not the choreographer!
@guppy0112 Gene Kelly was known as a perfectionist and didn't settle just for second-rate when it came to performing. Debbie isn't the only movie star to say working with him was a challenge as he was incredibly hard on those around him and getting things exactly right. I believe someone also said he was quite rough to dance with, saying that you knew the difference between Kelly and Astaire because if you'd been dancing with Kelly you had bruises all over your body. Reynolds worked incredibly
Andre Previn was a musical director and arranger at MGM and its musical performers of that time all worked with him. He did work with Reynolds during her first several years at MGM though he is not credited with Singin' in the Rain in particular.
Wow, they said this is her favorite suit and she is being buried in it. So sad, to lose a child and then the heart breaks and she really loves her kids, Carrie, had her own demons to deal with, but she overcame them. If she can do so, so can any one else, rich or poor.
Of course it's not possible to say who is "better" unless the talent comparison is totally obvious which it isn't with Gene and Fred, but in my opinion only, Fred is more graceful and flowing. Gene is short and muscular looking. I would rather watch Fred if a had to pick. Thank you for your comments.
@@hobiehanson Gene Kelly doesn't have pizzazz?Are you serious? He was the epitome of charisma. So sexy and attractive and he could act. Also his own choreographer who changed the look of dance on film. A revolutionary and women adore him.
to be fair most of the really difficult dance sequences were between gene and donald. even in "good morning" kelly and donald did most of the dancing. also debbie was dubbed in the movie
You are absolutely right! LMAO! I'm sorry, really. I'd heard that Gene wanted Cyd Charisse- but the studio wanted Debbie Reynolds just because she was younger. As an avid Cyd Charisse fan, I find that really annoying. I guess I'm just a disgruntled Cyd Charisse fan!! Once again, I'm sorry..............
Check out the episode from the 50's-60's TV show "What's My Line"-the first time Debbie Reynolds is on that show (I believe it's around the same time that "Singin' In The Rain" came out, around 53'-55' or so. She's gorgeous, sexy, adorable and absolutely hysterical!!!
+utubenotebanco the same age as her daughter Carrie Fisher when they did Star Wars. Both mother and daughter did their breakout roles at the same age. Now both are gone.
In fact, Debbie Reynolds had been dancing for 3 years or so and had danced already onscreen in Two Weeks With Love and had toured a live song and dance act with Carleton Carpenter. She was not as well trained as Kelly or O'Connor but she was already very good and continued to develop her dancing skills. I'm not sure why she insists that she hadn't danced before.
I didn't say it did, but a tap here and there is part of the training of a dancer. In fact, she'd had ballet, jazz and tapdancing for four years before Singin' in the Rain as well as dancing in a Vaudeville tour and on film. I'm a dancer and choreographer myself and I began with a tap here and there.@@cynthiawilliams737
Dear Marc., The writer guppy, may have been in a domestic violent relationship and may in fact have been stabbed a few times in her lifetime, by her spouse or children. Her saying that she doesn't like back-stabbers sounds quite reasonable, her wishing to talkabout back-stabbers and to find examples of back-stabber's behaviour in other people, here on the stage, that remind her, by comparison with the actual back-stabbers in her own life; just goes to show how unreasonable she is. . Cheers.
It seems like it was so much easier to get into show business in those days. Any pretty girl had the chance to be cast in a major motion picture with big stars. Today that would never happen. Lucky her.
I love the movie and everything- but I hate the fact that she slags off Gene Kelly over the dance sequences. You know 'how difficult it was' and 'how demanding he was' and 'how he made me cry' boo hoo! She wasn't exactly a dancer in the first place so why did she take the job? I bet others would have killed to get it. The money- What else? I can't stand ungrateful back-stabbers!
She was a talented dancer, though not yet extensively trained. She would have been wise to take the job because it's a fabulous opportunity and it made her a star. However, she was under contract and had no choice in the matter. To call Gene Kelly "demanding" is neither unflattering nor, apparently, untrue.
Agree with Dave Jones. Mr Fred Astaire set the standard, but no other dancer has reached or ever will. His body frame , his natural elegance and his persona was unique. Gene was not elegant, he was just another dancer. Certainly not in the same league as Mr Astaire. If you like muscles and acrobatics....Gene could deliver, dance as art form: sorry, no way.
She was so ungrateful to Gene Kelly. Without "Singin' In The Rain" nobody would remember her. And she was nineteen. I hate when people bite the hand that feeds them
As far as I know, she's only said that Kelly was a very hard taskmaster and that they didn't get along especially well because there was such a big gap in their ages. How is that being ungrateful? I'm sure she's always given credit where credit is due in terms of Kelly's dancing talent.
Accurately describing her experience on the film is a good thing. She also gave many memorable performances in many other films and was being groomed for stardom already. She has always spoken of Mr. Kelly with great admiration but with a healthy recognition of what a taskmaster he was. I applaud her for it.
It was actually Donald O'Connor who taught her how to dance for that film. She said that in a couple of interviews. He was really the unsung hero of this picture. In many ways. A well deserved Golden Globe.
I am surprised to find out she was only 17 in the movie... she did a magnificent job for being new and not having danced ever before.
She was 19
+Scott Coleman the same age as her daughter Carrie Fisher when she did Star Wars. Now both of them are gone now. RIP to both of them/:
lisa marie mc BJ
17/19 whatever either way she was still a kid. Unbelievable feat regardless
alexh4319 And 25 years apart
Thanks for everything, may you rest in peace. Debbie Reynolds (1932-2016)
My first real glimpse of Debbie was voicing the title character in Charolette’s Web. Then the Halloweentown movies then Rugrats then Kim Possible. But I didn’t see Singing in the Rain until I was 21
"Why did she take the job?" Because on those days, under a studio contract, if you said no to a project it could mean suspension with no pay. Reynolds wasn't rich at the time. Saying that Debbie is ungrateful and a back-stabber is so wrong. She knows Gene Kelly was a genious dancer and choreographer. But, at the same time, she's entitled to say things the way she experienced them.
Debbie is an encyclopaedia of the great Hollywood era and love listening to all the anecdotes she reveals about the behind the scenes of those great stars she has worked with. Thank you Debbie and thanks so much for posting.
She reminded me so much of my late grandmother who passed away when I was 4 and have only a couple memories of…she is dearly missed
I'm so happy that the new generation knows Debbie Reynolds from Holloween Town you will be missed beautiful lady ❤️ But your Mother's Heart ❤️ couldn't bare losing your beloved Carrie may you both R.I.P.
I'm new generation and I know her from three little words..lately I love vintage movie and she is a great actress who can sing and dance beautifully☺
kei let I love vintage movies too
Halloweentown is my all time favorite Disney Channel movie tied with High School Musical
WAIT THAT WAS DEBBIE??????
I love singin in the rain!!! It was my 8th grade musical and will always hold a special place in my heart. Gene Kelly Debbie Renolds are just legends and they will live on forever!💖
There's nothing more painful than losing a child no matter how old they are. Debbie was a very talented actress, but obviously a mother first. I feel so bad for her son Todd. I hope he finds some peace through all this.
Well now she's reunited with her son and daughter in heaven!
RIP Debbie! I have seen the movie four times in the last six years. And it surprisingly hasn’t aged much in almost 70 years! I was 21 when I first saw Singing in the Rain now I’m 27. But my inner 90’s baby will always love Debbie even more as Grandma Aggie in Halloweentown.
What a fantastic lady and talent we lost all the way around.
Debbie will be missed so much by all.
DEBBIE WAS SENSATIONAL IN LIFE.
I ALWAYS WAS A HUGE FAN OF HERS
I ALWAYS WILL BE.
A wonderful interview. She is such a genuine person so I enjoyed her reminisces of a beautiful film. Thank you
Still love singing in the rain😭😭
She will always be Our 'Lucky Star'.
And Our Lucy Charm
I've never seen such a Beautiful lady with this age ! She was gorgeous a true Legend, RIP Debby Reynolds and also her beautiful daugther Carry. You are together now.
She was even beautiful as Grandma Aggie
Singin' in the Rain is my favorite movie of all time. Watching Debbie Reynolds keep up with Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor (two of the greatest dancers of the 20th century, I might add) in "Good Morning" is mesmerizing!
I would have loved to have been there on set for even just a day and see what it was like during the golden age of cinema.
I’ve been into the golden age of Cinema since my middle school years
I did many shows with Debbie in the late 60's she is a real sweetheart
Rest in peace pretty lady.
I watched Singin in the rain (again) a couple of days ago. Sad times. Thank you Debbie for being a part of my favourite musical.
Funny to think that's Princess Leia's real-life mother.
ScottieGirl20 and now both dead
Samuel I know I can't believe it; I only commented a couple of months before it happened. May they both find peace wherever they are.
ScottieGirl20 and may The force, be with them.
And that Singing in the Rain And Star Wars debuted to the world 25 years apart
She will always be rememebered
I love it!!! I'm watching this movie today at this little theatre in Oregon. OMG I can't wait!
She definitely was young and inexperienced, but it does NOT show in her performance in this film. And not just in her hard-earned dancing ability, but in her acting as well. The scene where Gene Kelly starts to come onto her while she's driving, and she gradually realizes what he's doing and responds by cleverly criticizing his movie performances, is terrific. She handles it with great skill and nuance, and makes it funny.
Gene Kelly didn't have a choice L.B. Mayer said it was Debbie Reynolds or else & of course he was a task master he had to bring the movie in on budget or face the music with the studio so he did what they expected if anyone was to blame for what Debbie endured it was L.B. Mayer & the Studio, but kudos for Debbie for seeing it through!
Here are the some interesting facts about the singing and the dubbing for the movie.." Singing in the Rain".. Debbie Reynolds did sing on the number ' Good Mornin" and her characters rendition of "Singing in the Rain".. , Reynolds other songs were dubbed by Betty Noyes.. The character played by Reynolds ( Kathy) was supposed to be dubbing the character Lina Lamont's speaking voice.. However, the actress ( Jean Hagen) who portrayed Lina Lamont dubbed in her OWN speaking voice..
I thought it was Marni Nixon
Lovely Debbie Reynolds, you made so many people in this world happy with your lovely singing and acting (remember TAMMY?) rest in peace, sweetheart xxx we all LOVED you in Will and Grace (as Graces Mother) saying I told you so..I told you so....
I totally understand where you are coming from! My point being is that it wasn't Gene that was so hard on Debbie- it was the dancing! All choreographers are tough task-masters, because dancing is tough (just like any other physical activity). Some of the routines that he did with Cyd Charisse would have been just as 'rough to dance with' and 'had bruises all over your body' if she'd had a different partner but the same choreography! It's the dance that sets the difficulty- not the choreographer!
It's the choreographer who creates the dance, however. So it IS indeed he or she who sets the level of difficulty.
she's the coolest lady - she was so funny on that one episode of oprah with her daughter
So she was quite young when she made the movie. What a great talent!! Very few of us left!!Ha Ha!!
RIP best actress ever
Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen directed the movie. Gene Kelly also choreographed and starred in it, too.
She was such a cute and witty lady. We shall miss her.
Debbie played Kathy Selden, not Seldon. Odd, you'd think AFI might have bothered to look it up.
@guppy0112 Gene Kelly was known as a perfectionist and didn't settle just for second-rate when it came to performing. Debbie isn't the only movie star to say working with him was a challenge as he was incredibly hard on those around him and getting things exactly right. I believe someone also said he was quite rough to dance with, saying that you knew the difference between Kelly and Astaire because if you'd been dancing with Kelly you had bruises all over your body. Reynolds worked incredibly
Cyd Charisse said that.
Wonderful!
Gene Kelly is my life😍😍😍😍😘❤
The first movie I’ve seen with Gene was Xanadu
Singing in the rain was a great movie, but it was the dream screen with Cyd Charisse that pushed it to greatness....Frank
Rest in Power Madam !
No way. She didn't dance? what an accomplishment!!!
Debbie, you were nineteen. Andre Previn had nothing to do with SITR.
Andre Previn was a musical director and arranger at MGM and its musical performers of that time all worked with him. He did work with Reynolds during her first several years at MGM though he is not credited with Singin' in the Rain in particular.
Wow, they said this is her favorite suit and she is being buried in it. So sad, to lose a child and then the heart breaks and she really loves her kids, Carrie, had her own demons to deal with, but she overcame them. If she can do so, so can any one else, rich or poor.
Of course it's not possible to say who is "better" unless the talent comparison is totally obvious which it isn't with Gene and Fred, but in my opinion only, Fred is more graceful and flowing. Gene is short and muscular looking. I would rather watch Fred if a had to pick. Thank you for your comments.
Gene was a genius choreographer as well as dancer and he could act. He was also sexy.
@@susanlloyd7395 He doesn't have any pizzaz. Too short, not graceful, boring.
@@hobiehanson Gene Kelly doesn't have pizzazz?Are you serious? He was the epitome of charisma. So sexy and attractive and he could act. Also his own choreographer who changed the look of dance on film. A revolutionary and women adore him.
Lovely
Mother of Princess Leia.. ( Carrie Fisher) is gone has well..
#$&* you, 2016..
Nice...thanks! Larry, Taiwan
What an amazing lady. She is, not was.
Debbie is cool! she is pretty too!
Rip Charlotte
That was my first glimpse of Debbie’s talent way before I even saw Singing in the Rain
to be fair most of the really difficult dance sequences were between gene and donald. even in "good morning" kelly and donald did most of the dancing. also debbie was dubbed in the movie
You are absolutely right! LMAO! I'm sorry, really. I'd heard that Gene wanted Cyd Charisse- but the studio wanted Debbie Reynolds just because she was younger. As an avid Cyd Charisse fan, I find that really annoying. I guess I'm just a disgruntled Cyd Charisse fan!! Once again, I'm sorry..............
Cyd Charisse is in the movie in two fabulous dances choreographed by Gene Kelly. Both Kelly and Donen wanted Reynolds to play Kathy.
Her memory is always a little hazy on this, she was born in 1932 so was 19 or 20, and she danced in Two weeks with love in 1950.
RIP :(
No, it was her singing.
Wow, 17 for the film and a newbie. I would never know she was 17, 20's maybe. Lucky her
Check out the episode from the 50's-60's TV show "What's My Line"-the first time Debbie Reynolds is on that show (I believe it's around the same time that "Singin' In The Rain" came out, around 53'-55' or so. She's gorgeous, sexy, adorable and absolutely hysterical!!!
she was 19 then.
+utubenotebanco the same age as her daughter Carrie Fisher when they did Star Wars. Both mother and daughter did their breakout roles at the same age. Now both are gone.
In fact, Debbie Reynolds had been dancing for 3 years or so and had danced already onscreen in Two Weeks With Love and had toured a live song and dance act with Carleton Carpenter. She was not as well trained as Kelly or O'Connor but she was already very good and continued to develop her dancing skills. I'm not sure why she insists that she hadn't danced before.
You cannot call her dancing experience as professional before Singing In The Rain a tap here a tap there does not make a dancer!
I didn't say it did, but a tap here and there is part of the training of a dancer. In fact, she'd had ballet, jazz and tapdancing for four years before Singin' in the Rain as well as dancing in a Vaudeville tour and on film.
I'm a dancer and choreographer myself and I began with a tap here and there.@@cynthiawilliams737
2016 why must you take more lives why
everyone dies everyday
TheLastMaxist I meant like celebrities
***** i see what you did there
Dear Marc.,
The writer guppy, may have been in a domestic violent relationship and may in fact have been stabbed a few times in her lifetime, by her spouse or children.
Her saying that she doesn't like back-stabbers sounds quite reasonable, her wishing to talkabout back-stabbers and to find examples of back-stabber's behaviour in other people, here on the stage, that remind her, by comparison with the actual back-stabbers in her own life; just goes to show how unreasonable she is.
.
Cheers.
It seems like it was so much easier to get into show business in those days. Any pretty girl had the chance to be cast in a major motion picture with big stars. Today that would never happen. Lucky her.
When I was younger, I wanted to be in the movies. But I’m fine just watching and reviewing them
One song was definitely dubbed, but mostly her voice.
ASMR
Beauty lady awful mommy.
I love the movie and everything- but I hate the fact that she slags off Gene Kelly over the dance sequences. You know 'how difficult it was' and 'how demanding he was' and 'how he made me cry' boo hoo! She wasn't exactly a dancer in the first place so why did she take the job? I bet others would have killed to get it. The money- What else? I can't stand ungrateful back-stabbers!
She was a talented dancer, though not yet extensively trained. She would have been wise to take the job because it's a fabulous opportunity and it made her a star. However, she was under contract and had no choice in the matter. To call Gene Kelly "demanding" is neither unflattering nor, apparently, untrue.
Agree with Dave Jones.
Mr Fred Astaire set the standard, but no other dancer has reached or ever will. His body frame , his natural elegance and his persona was unique.
Gene was not elegant, he was just another dancer. Certainly not in the same league as Mr Astaire. If you like muscles and acrobatics....Gene could deliver, dance as art form: sorry, no way.
apollonia You can't compare the two, impossible
Astaire set the standard - Kelly surpassed it
I agree that Fred Astaire is the best... I would even put the Nicholas Brothers ahead of Gene Kelly...
apollonia What about Michael Jackson?
Could not disagree more. Gene Kelly had everything that the great Astaire had plus hot as blazes sex appeal.
She was so ungrateful to Gene Kelly. Without "Singin' In The Rain" nobody would remember her. And she was nineteen. I hate when people bite the hand that feeds them
As far as I know, she's only said that Kelly was a very hard taskmaster and that they didn't get along especially well because there was such a big gap in their ages. How is that being ungrateful? I'm sure she's always given credit where credit is due in terms of Kelly's dancing talent.
Accurately describing her experience on the film is a good thing. She also gave many memorable performances in many other films and was being groomed for stardom already. She has always spoken of Mr. Kelly with great admiration but with a healthy recognition of what a taskmaster he was. I applaud her for it.
Susan Lloyd you see it as ungrateful but she is simply telling her experience & how it was back then!
Sorry Gene, but Fred Astaire is better.
Dave Jones You can't compare the two... they're very different dancers
I’m a slightly bigger fan of Fred than I am of Gene too
@@manuelorozco7760 Gene is no fun to watch. He reminds me of a gym teacher. Boring city.
Hobie Jones But I still think he’s amazing
@@manuelorozco7760 Yes, you are right.