Review of Singin' in the Rain (1952) by Anthony L — 20 Nov 2012

Considered by many as the greatest musical of all time, Singin' in the Rain is a dazzling, charming and nostalgic look into the transition into talking cinema. Legends Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly star as the two lovers within this film. Possibly his most well-known role, Gene Kelly sings and dances to a delightfully written script and charming characters. Singin' in the Rain was the start of a legendary career for Stanley Donen who would later create the classic film Charade in 1963. In 1952, this film was nominated for 2 Oscars, Best Music and Best Supporting Actress but lost both to With a Song in my heart and The Bad and the Beautiful. Although it did lose the two awards, its soundtrack is still catchy and iconic to this day. Ranking 5th on AFI's top 100 movies, Singin' in the Rain is a must see for all movie fans, young or old.

The basic theme in this film is the difficult transition into the talking era of cinema after the revolutionary creation of The Jazz Singer. Actor Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) and actress Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) are two famous stars within the realm of silent film. In 1927, The Jazz Singer, the first talking motion picture ever is created. Attempting to compete with Warner Brothers Studio, Monumental pictures sets out to release The Duelling Cavaliers but due to many complications, Don thinks of turning it into a lively, upbeat musical. With the efforts of Don, Cosmo, Kathy and Lina, their new film, The Dancing Cavalier is an outstanding and widely loved film.

Even when you aren't looking at a critical standpoint, Singin' in the Rain is one of the most interesting, energetic and colorful films of all time. Putting aside the acting and direction for a second, the singing is top-notch, ranked as the 3rd best song of any film by AFI (American Film Institute). With catchy songs such as Singin' in the Rain, Good Morning and Make em' Laugh, this film has an exceptional soundtrack. This film is one of the few films that has stood the test of time, still being a popular film today. As film critic Roger Ebert states, "There is no movie musical more fun than Singin' in the Rain, and few that remain as fresh over the year.".

Gene Kelly gives arguably the best performance of his long and legendary career. With extraordinary shots (better than some films nowadays in my opinion), Singin' in the Rain is a short and sweet musical. Jean Hagen, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, gives an outstanding performance as the nasty Lina Lamont. Debbie Reynolds, who plays the female lead, gives one of the most well-known performances of her career. Although he is not as well-known as Kelly or Reynolds, Donald O'Connor does a believable and phenomenal job as Cosmo, a "Groucho Marx" kind of character. Despite the fact he was a rookie while making this film, Stanley Donen brings to audiences a timeless classic. The light-hearted script contributes to the feel-good mood the director tries to bring to the film.

The one thing that sets Singin' in the Rain aside from many other great films is that it has stood the test of time. From way back in 1952 until now, the musical numbers and rememberable performances are still loved globally. The film has the same effect on audiences as The Godfather, Casablanca and North by Northwest, it stays in your mind for a long time. Impressing both critics and audiences alike, this film has great acting, direction, cinematography and a mesmerizing soundtrack.