Singin’ In The Rain (Donen, Kelly, 1952): 1952
Viewed at the Metro IV on January 30, 2013, during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival at 5:00 P.M. Reviewed by Larry Gleeson. “Singin’ In The Rain,”is a Hollywood treasure created under auspicious beginnings as the writers Green and Comden pushed themselves trough the night to come up with a musical recycling some of the great tunes of yesteryear. One can’t help but wonder! The musical film contains toe-tapping tunes and choreographed dancing that are a pleasure to experience. The version I watched was in color and the colors were vivid and bright and complemented the tone of the film. In addition, the musical had a significant industry milestone contained within as thee transition from silent to talkies was showcased in a lighthearted and laughable, fun manner as we see camera hidden in phone booths, microphone placed in flower pots and the outcomes of such attempts as we watch preview audiences laugh and guffaw at the attempts to synchronize and balance the recorded voices. Even the film’s climax brings laughter as the audience witnesses platinum blonde bombshell, Lina Lamont, played to a tee by Jean Hagen, a prim a-donna of the worst sort, who has connived, bullied and blackmailed co-stars and executives alike in making her way to the top, being brought down as the curtain is raised showcasing a new rising star, Kathy, played by the effervescent Debbie Reynolds. The audience sees Kathy singing and Lamont’s contemptuous attempt at lip synching. When confronted Lamont speaks and the audience roars with laughter at her high-pitched Brooklyn accent. The theme of contempt isn’t just introduced at the end. It’s evident from the opening as Don, played by Gene Kelly, overwhelms a reporter as he details his rise to stardom with his partner Cosmo, played by Donald O’Connor, with “Dignity. Always Dignity.” Yet, the truth is the two struggled and scraped and clawed their way to the top working in pool halls, slapstick vaudeville sketches and even burlesque. Even Kathy gets in on the contempt as she tells Don she’s a serious actor and then we see her jumping out of a birthday cake. Meanwhile the studio is sending out press releases stating Don and Lina are a romantic couple. Hilarity ensues as Lina believes the press releases and is in hot pursuit of her man Don. And, studio executive Simpson, played by Millard Mitchell insists talkies will never catch on. Most everything gets turned this side of Tuesday as Don and Kathy become romantically involved, Lina finally gets what’s coming to her (although one can’t help but sympathize with such a nitwit), talkies catch on and sound get synchronized onto the film as it’s shot, and the project is a success. Definitely a feel-good film from start to finish. I highly recommend this film the any cinephile as it’s a Hollywood treasure in respect to the industry at large and also because of the superb dancing and singing performance. Furthermore, I strongly encourage those interested viewers to watch this film on the big screen as it’s characters are larger than life.
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