Yesterday was one of those relaxing rainy Saturdays where you really have no choice but to throw yourself down on a sofa, snuggle up under a quilt and watch an old movie.
I had wanted to watch “Gigi,” which I haven’t seen in ages, but I couldn’t find my DVD (and actually wonder if my friend, Merton, stole it), and it also wasn’t on apple TV (I want to know why!). Anyway, I had to chose a film from my own collection that was agreeable not only to myself but also to my weekend house guests and that film, after lengthy debate, was Singin’ In The Rain.
Let me start by saying that I’ve seen Singin’ In The Rain about 3 dozen times. Maybe more. I thought I knew every single line but when I watched it yesterday I fell in love with it yet again and that’s because I found even more to love about it than the other 36 times I’ve viewed this masterpiece of American cinema.
Here are just a few reasons I will never tire of watching it.
1. Gene Kelly
2. Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse
3. Gene Kelly and Donald O’Conner
4. Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen (as Nina Lamont)
5. Debbie Reynold
6. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Conner all together.
7. Make ‘Em Laugh makes you laugh. Every time.
8. The colorful sets.
9. Walter Plunkett’s costumes.
10. The hilarious one liners created by Comden and Green
Now I’ll give you some trivia that’s too good not to pass along.
The film is about Debbie Reynold’s character getting credit for dubbing Jean Hagen’s character. Ironically, in reality, Jean Hagen dubbed Debbie Reynold’s speaking voice in the scene’s where Debbie Reynolds is supposed to be dubbing Jean Hagen. So try to follow this: you have Jean Hagen dubbing Debbie Reynolds dubbing Jean Hagen. And when Debbie is supposedly dubbing Jean’s singing of “Would You”, the voice you hear singing actually belongs to the completely uncredited Betty Noyes. How’s that for a little irony!
A little more trivia: Donald O’Conner smoked 4 packs of cigarette’s a day.
I could go on but I’d rather hear from you. Why do YOU love Singin’ In The Rain??? If you’ve never seen it, why haven’t you? What film do you wish I would write about? Please leave a comment. I truly love to hear from you.
xo,
I *love* that movie! I think my favorite scenes are the “No No No… Yes Yes Yes” bit, and the “Moses supposes his toes are roses…” patter.
Speaking of dubbed voices, I just watched “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (showing it to a 20-something who had never seen it), and had to explain who everyone was and when they weren’t actually singing.
I almost always want to watch “On the Town” (which I hear is having an amazing revival out in your part of the world), and “American In Paris” along with “Singin’ in the Rain”… They’re like potato chips – you can’t watch just one!
I love Gentlemen Prefer Blondes! Haven’t seen it in a long time so I’ll put it on my short list. As for On The Town, the current revival is, indeed, fantastic. I was at its very first preview as my dear friend is one of the producers and my screenwriting partner updated the book! So I may be biased but the rest of the crowd seemed very enthusiastic as well. Where are you from? Which part of the country?
You do remind me of a nephew. Very artsy and liked all those musicals And creative and musical like you. He would write plays and music even back in junior high. The movies I have watched too many times are “Lawrence Of Arabia” (great soundtrack), “Gunga Din” “Sherlock” (waste too much time watching those things).
I’ve seen them ALL and adore them!
I love the innocence and sophistication of the acting, singing and dancing.
It’s amazing how well Stanley Donan and Gene Kelly, who co-directed, manage to make it enjoyable to any age group.
This made me laugh because I remembered the Gene Kelly guest appearance on The Muppet Show where the Muppets would play the opening bars to Singing In The Rain and he would start other songs. After the Muppets all went away frustrated, Gene went onto a beautifully recreated set whistling Singing In The Rain.
After a number of years in Baltimore, these days I lust after the Broadway show listings from Minneapolis. We have an amazing theater scene, here, but there’s something about the allure of New York shows. (And one of my best friends lives in Manhattan and frequently talks about what she’s seen.)
The greatest movie musical of all time and one of my all time favorites. I’ve seen it countless times and never get tired of it. When TCM had a showing of it in theaters I wanted to take my entire dept at work to see it, but did not. Kinda regret that.