I'm a former music teacher who did a unit on musical theatre with grades 5 through 8. The units would culminate with watching a different musical on TV with each grade. The fifth graders watched Singin in the Rain, and every year they'd love the movie so much. They would walk around the school quoting Lena LaMont, and the older kids (having seen Singin in the Rain when they were 5th grade) joined in. So quotes like "....and I can't stand him" echoed throughout the halls. How much fun it would have been if I had known half of these facts that you are telling us about. They would have loved them. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I read a story that Debbie was frustrated at not being able to master the dance steps, and she confided this to Fred Astaire, who laughed and invited her to watch him rehearse. He went through take after take after take. She felt a lot better - if even Fred Astaire could make mistakes … By the way, have you seen Paddington Bear doing Singing in the Rain? stop-frame animation, and it's step-for-step perfect. This vid shows both side by side th-cam.com/video/b0t9jvvqDY8/w-d-xo.html ps: in one of the London stage productions of Singing in the Rain, the person taking Donald O'Connor's part refused to do the run-up-the-wall bit - I can imagine that doing it every night, rather than just once - or twice! - on film would be harder, but it is part of the routine. Wonder what he did instead, and what the audience thought about it.
When I watched this movie as an adult, I thought that it was pretty dumb to put the best routine as the first big number of the film ("Fit as a Fiddle"). Then the next sequence burst onto the screen and I thought... and so on. El Cyd was amazing. The line from R.F. after the "Gotta Dance" sequence was terrific. The casting was sublime. For me, #5 of all time. It never ages.
Thanks! Keep up the good work. I love these reviews and your enthusiasm. I purchased "The Adventures of Robin Hood" base on that review. I'll make certain I watch this musical.
Thank you your lovely comment! You know, I just watched 'Singin' in the Rain' again today - on the Big Screen and it was worth every second. Hope that you enjoy 'The Adventures of Robin Hood!'
'Make 'Em Laugh' was not the only case of 'inspired by' in SITR. The title tune's solo dance by Kelly owes an awful lot to Eleanor Powell's 'I'm Feeling Like a Million' in 'Broadway Melody of 1938'. Both that and 'Be a Clown' were written by Cole Porter. To my mind Powell's rainy duet with George Murphy is better.
I'm a former music teacher who did a unit on musical theatre with grades 5 through 8. The units would culminate with watching a different musical on TV with each grade. The fifth graders watched Singin in the Rain, and every year they'd love the movie so much. They would walk around the school quoting Lena LaMont, and the older kids (having seen Singin in the Rain when they were 5th grade) joined in. So quotes like "....and I can't stand him" echoed throughout the halls. How much fun it would have been if I had known half of these facts that you are telling us about. They would have loved them. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
@Randy White (edit to reflect correction)
Gene Kelly, actor, singer, Dancer, Choreographer, director, teacher and mentor was a Genius.
Again and again, I absolutely love your taste in films.
great review, one of my favourite films, such an energetic and fun, perfect for rainy day ;)
Whenever I heard Debbie Reynolds talk about Donald O'Connor, I always got the feeling she had a thing for him.
I read a story that Debbie was frustrated at not being able to master the dance steps, and she confided this to Fred Astaire, who laughed and invited her to watch him rehearse. He went through take after take after take. She felt a lot better - if even Fred Astaire could make mistakes …
By the way, have you seen Paddington Bear doing Singing in the Rain? stop-frame animation, and it's step-for-step perfect.
This vid shows both side by side
th-cam.com/video/b0t9jvvqDY8/w-d-xo.html
ps: in one of the London stage productions of Singing in the Rain, the person taking Donald O'Connor's part refused to do the run-up-the-wall bit - I can imagine that doing it every night, rather than just once - or twice! - on film would be harder, but it is part of the routine. Wonder what he did instead, and what the audience thought about it.
When I watched this movie as an adult, I thought that it was pretty dumb to put the best routine as the first big number of the film ("Fit as a Fiddle"). Then the next sequence burst onto the screen and I thought... and so on. El Cyd was amazing. The line from R.F. after the "Gotta Dance" sequence was terrific. The casting was sublime. For me, #5 of all time. It never ages.
Great review, Kitty! I agree 10 out of 10! 🙌🏻
Gene Kelly is so handsome in this movie it makes me sick
Makes me happy
Thanks! Keep up the good work. I love these reviews and your enthusiasm. I purchased "The Adventures of Robin Hood" base on that review. I'll make certain I watch this musical.
Thank you your lovely comment! You know, I just watched 'Singin' in the Rain' again today - on the Big Screen and it was worth every second. Hope that you enjoy 'The Adventures of Robin Hood!'
Hollywood's greatest musical
'Make 'Em Laugh' was not the only case of 'inspired by' in SITR.
The title tune's solo dance by Kelly owes an awful lot to Eleanor Powell's 'I'm Feeling Like a Million' in 'Broadway Melody of 1938'. Both that and 'Be a Clown' were written by Cole Porter. To my mind Powell's rainy duet with George Murphy is better.
All dancers feet bleed