"Singin' in the Rain" is generally considered to be the best Hollywood musical ever. It may well be, as I have seen no other musical that comes close. Perhaps the difference between this film and others is that it is not only a musical. If you remove all the musical and dance numbers, you are still left with an outstanding comedy. In fact, it may be the best comedy ever, unless "Dr. Strangelove" qualifies.
The story has Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen playing
fictional silent movie stars for Monumental
Pictures. It is 1927, and "The Jazz Singer" has
made silent features obsolete. Monumental must
transition to talkies. One of many problems is
that Hagen can't sing, and her shrieking voice
must be dubbed by Kelly's love interest, Debbie
Reynolds. Hagen despises Reynolds, since she has
plans for Kelly herself. Kelly's best friend is
musician Donald O'Connor, and his studio boss is
Millard Mitchell.
O'Connor wasted much of the prime of his career
making films with Francis, the talking mule.
While I suppose that both Universal and O'Connor
had bills to pay, "Singin' in the Rain"
demonstrates his prodigious talent. "Make 'em
Laugh" in particular is a marvel, although Kelly
must be given due credit for the choreography.
Debbie Reynolds was in her teens when this film
was made, and she radiates with energy. Kelly is
perfect as always, and Hagen gives a career
performance as stupid prima donna Lina Lamont.
While it may be heresy to criticize such an
outstanding film, the first two thirds of the
film is even better than the last third. The
film's momentum is disturbed by a lengthy dance
sequence that includes mysterious femme fatale
Cyd Charisse. One ballet scene has her wearing a
dress that trails on for 25 feet, lifted by a
wind machine. You've heard of gratuitous sex or
violence; perhaps this is gratuitous Art, and it
has little to do with the rest of the film.
But trivial flaws cannot prevent "Singin' in the
Rain" from being among the best films ever made,
as well as the best musical ever and one of the
best comedies. Particularly great are the scenes
with Kelly and Hagen in their first talky: the
transition from pantomime to dialogue is both
hilarious and revealing. (96/100)
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