Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s towering achievement Singin’ in the Rain (1952) ticks many boxes: one of the greatest movies/musicals ever made; iconic classic; love letter to the silent era.
But let’s put all that aside for a second. After all, we are movie lovers, not critics. And as such, the connection we have to film is a personal one.
On an intimate level, watching Singin’ in the Rain is an experience – one which elicits a response.
An undescribable magic happens even before those credits start to roll.
And once the film starts, the unmatched energy behind every scene, delicious alchemy of the performers, and unbridled optimism of the musical numbers never fail to make the viewer feel physically lighter.
No matter how gray the day or loud the storm, Singin’ in the Rain is the breath of fresh air that transforms raindrops into liquid sunshine. Its cinematic excellence shines all the more brightly because of that glorious feeling it brings.
So grab your umbrella and galoshes! Today I am revisiting 7 of my favorite moments from this irrepressible musical.
1. A Jump and a Swing
I could not find a gif to illustrate the twisty jump Gene Kelly executes right before swinging his umbrella merrily in the streets, but if you’ve seen the film a zillion times like me, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
As the music crescendos, Don’s euphoria reaches its climax as he jumps jauntily off the sidewalk continuing his rapturous expression of love and happiness into an empty street.
It’s one of those moments where the joy is so contagious it makes you overwhelmingly glad to be alive. Composer Leonard Bernstein (West Side Story) summed it up beautifully when he called Kelly’s iconic song and dance an “affirmation of life.”
2. Harassing the Elocution Instructor
That poor elocution instructor. He didn’t stand a chance…
Who hasn’t dreamed of goofing off in class with their best friend while driving their teacher nuts?
That’s exactly what happens in “Moses Supposes” when Don and Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) break into dance and proceed to tear the room apart while doing so. My favorite part of this delightful number is when they “dress up” the instructor with whatever they can find – chairs, curtains, lamp shade. Anything goes!
3. Good Morning Kiss
Cosmo gets the short end of the stick when Don gets the credit for his ingenious idea of using Kathy’s voice to dub Lina. But Kathy makes up for it with a peck, sending Cosmo over the edge and giving us one of Donald O’Connor’s cutest moments.
4. Calling a Cab
Cosmo strikes again.
How did these two only make one movie together? We were robbed, folks.
5. Lina Goes Haywire
Lina Lamont Pictures here we come.
The heated conversation before Lina’s demise is pure gold as she shows her true colors in front of everyone. She’s so sure of her victory she holds nothing back and boy, do we love her for it.
“Who needs ya!? They’d come to see me if I played opposite a monkey!” she exclaims at the top of her screechy Brooklynese voice when Don defensively states he will pull out if Lina gets her way.
Jean Hagen was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Singin’ in the Rain, losing out to Gloria Grahame in The Bad and the Beautiful, but we know who the real winner is now, don’t we?
6. I Want to Hold Your Hand
Back to “Good Morning.”
This little moment where our teriffic trio join hands then exchange loving glances at each other – ah, pure magic.
It almost looks like an impromptu move, making the choreographed dance appear more real and spontaneous. These three appear to be having the time of their lives.
Debbie Reynolds’ ecstatic grin is the icing on the cake.
7. Oh, that Broadway Rhythm
Get out the fire hose.
Whenever Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse are onscreen together, be at the ready. These two have explosive chemistry that I just cannot get enough of. I also love the camerawork in this segment and how it highlights the choreography so beautifully.
According to Tony Thomas, author of The Films of Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor was to join Kelly in the Broadway Ballet sequence, but O’Connor had an obligation on television that he had to fulfill. Kelly’s plan B for the striking finale paved the way for Cyd Charisse, making her a star in this her 21st film appearance.
I wonder if the original plan with O’Connor had gone through, if Charisse still would have been given as prominent a part. Would we have had The Band Wagon, Brigadoon, etc. without this change of plans? (The movie nerd in me just loves these kinds of ponderings.)
Note: I wrote more about this wonderful pairing here.
Well , that’s it from me. Happy 70th Birthday, Singin’ in the Rain!!
You really are the cat’s meow.
This post is my contribution to The Singin’ in the Rain Blogathon: 70 Years of That Glorious Feeling hosted by yours truly. Treat yourself to the shimmering contributions here!
I’d love to know what your favorite moments are from Singin’ in the Rain!
…Let me know in the comments below…