Day 106 - Singin' in the Rain

Day 106          Singin’ in the Rain [1952]

                          

Screenplay                    Betty Comden & Adolph Green

Director                         Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen

Cinematography            Harold Rosson

Music                            Lennie Hayton, Nacio Herb Brown & Arthur Freed

Leads                            Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell

Production                     Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

IMDb                                 8.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes                100%

After An American in Paris (Day 90) I felt obliged to watch this iconic number. People often compare the two films but really there is no comparison. Although I liked the plot of An American more, the song and dance of this one is on another level. I also liked Gene Kelly more for some reason. Even though he directed it himself, he didn’t seem as much the centre of attention. The rest of the cast were brilliant, Donald O’Connor is the sort of person I would find incredibly annoying in real life, he’s such a bundle of arrogant energy, someone made for the stage. Debbie Reynolds and Jean Hagen are superb. The perfect Sunday family film that will have everyone from your grandmother to your toddler tapping their feet and humming along. I read a good review somewhere that this film has aged better than An American and I tend to agree. The nostalgia of the switch from silent films to the ‘talkies’ is wonderful and shows you how far Hollywood has come in a relatively short period. Good cinema this.

Acting                            3.5 / 4

Writing                           2.5 / 4

Cinematography             3.5 / 4

Music                                4 / 4

HWF rating                   3 / 4