Singin' in the Rain

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href=javascript:popUp('http://buybox.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=reelmoviecriticc&link_code=xsc&creative=23424&camp=2025&path=/dt/assoc/tg/aa/xml/assoc/-/B00006DEF9/reelmoviecriticc/ref=ac_bb1_,_amazon')><img src=http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/remote-buy-box/buy1.gif border=0 alt='Buy from Amazon.com' ></a>"); document.close(); </script> <noscript> <form method="POST" action="http://buybox.amazon.com/o/dt/assoc/handle-buy-box=B00006DEF9"> <input type="hidden" name="asin.B00006DEF9" value="1"> <input type="hidden" name="tag-value" value="reelmoviecriticc"> <input type="hidden" name="tag_value" value="reelmoviecriticc"> <input type="image" name="submit.add-to-cart" value="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" alt="Buy from Amazon.com" src="http://rcm-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/associates/add-to-cart.gif"> </form> </noscript>  </B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>Singin' in the Rain </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings 2" ><B>êêêê</B></FONT><B>  </B> ( G ) </div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><div> Reviewed By Cathy Edsey Collins</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="575"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="575" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="575"><div> <B>A Smile From Ear to Ear</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Gene Kelly: Don Lockwood</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Debbie Reynolds: Kathy Selden</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Donald O'Connor: Cosmo Brown</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Jean Hagen: Lena Lemont</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 ><NOBR><div> R.F. Simpson: Millard Mitchell </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Music and Lyrics: Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 38 WIDTH="269"><div> Directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Screenplay: Betty Comden and Adolph Green</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: One of the best films ever, this 1952 classic MGM musical dazzles with memorable songs, clever dance numbers and a romance that pokes fun at the turmoil in Hollywood during its sticky transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920's.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line: </B>Set in Hollywood during the waning days of silent pictures, the journey of buddies Don Lockwood and Cosmo Brown (Kelley and O'Connor) is told in flashback, as now mega star Lockwood attends the premiere of his latest film "The Royal Rascal."  Fleeing his "adoring fans" after the screening, he lands in the front seat of Kathy Selden's (Reynolds) car and is promptly smitten. A jealous co-star, Lena Lemont, has Kathy fired and Lockwood spends considerable time tracking her down. In the meantime, Warner Bros. releases the new talkie "The Jazz Singer" and the Lockwood/Lemont team must rework their latest feature to accommodate this new-fangled invention. Only problem-Lena's voice sounds like a fishwife's. Can the picture be saved? Will Don and Kathy get together?  </div> <div>  </div> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: For anyone who loves movies, "Singin' in the Rain" is required viewing. Yes, after 50 years this gem still packs a wallop and leaves audiences breathless with the genius of Gene Kelly's footwork. To see this joyous homage to the early days of film making on a big screen is a delicious treat, with the larger-than-life dance numbers more fully appreciated and Kelly's trademark "Singin' in the Rain" splashfest given its proper due. </div> <div>    </div> <div> Personal favorites include  "Moses Supposes," in which Donald O'Connor and Kelly, lifelong friends who have hit the big time at Monumental Pictures, antagonize the diction coach hired to improve the actors' speaking ability with the advent of sound. Their awesome tap dancing combined with their goofy antics and the song's clever (though limited) lyrics ("Moses supposes his toeses are roses and Moses supposes erroneously.") makes this a hilarious spoof of the studios' attempts to adapt to spoken dialogue in the movies.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Newcomer Cyd Charisse is highlighted in the "Broadway Rhythm" number, her emerald green costume a sexy counterpart to Kelly's nerdy attire. Their ballet-inspired duet is a memorable reminder of Kelly's versatility and Charisse's considerable talent. They would be paired in "Brigadoon" several years later.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Of course, Donald O'Connor's signature number "Make `Em Laugh" is a standout and capitalizes on this actor's rubbery face and comedic charm. Written by Arthur Freed for the film, the song's similarity to Cole Porter's "Be a Clown" are eerie. Rumor has it that Cole Porter, upon hearing the number, was ever the gentleman and never confronted Freed with the obvious plagiarism. Listening to both numbers consecutively ("Be a Clown" was performed by Kelly in "The Pirate") confirms that suspicion. Still, it is a tour de force for O'Connor and results in a smile every time this reviewer watches it.</div> <div>    </div> <div> Incredibly, "Singin' in the Rain" didn't earn a single Oscar, only a nomination for Hagen for Best Supporting Actress and the film's musical score.  Perhaps Kelly's multiple Oscar wins-including Best Picture for "An American in Paris" had something to do with that oversight. Time has proven to be the ultimate award-giver; "Singin' in the Rain" is consistently listed among critics' best films of all time and counted as a beloved favorite by moviegoers of all generations.</div> <div>    </div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div>    Rated G for general audiences</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Cathy Edsey Collins © 2002</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="Cathyedsey@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cathyedsey@aol.com"><U><U>Cathyedsey@aol.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?singin+in+the+rain" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?singin+in+the"><U><B>For over 50 reviews, go here.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>