Rating: 
Summary: Too much fun!
Review: Delightful movie that not only showcases Gene Kelly's wonderful talents, but that of Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds as well. This movie has a great sense of humor, poking fun at the early talkies in Hollywood, as Kelly and O'Connor team up to put on a new musical. Debbie Reynolds is not content to supply the voice for the screechy voiced Jean Hagen, who is the reigning star of Hollywood. Hagen gets her come-uppance in the end in a riotous closing sequence. But, the signature piece remains the scene where Kelly quite literally dances in the rain after being smitten by the lovely Debbie Reynolds, who seems so fresh and fair in this movie, like an April flower. The three lead actors play so beautifully off each other, making this one of the most memorable musicals of that era.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best musicals...ever!
Review: Singin' in the Rain was always one of my favourites, so I jumped at the chance on buying the Special Edition DVD. The special features on Disc 2 are fabulous -- the best I have seen yet. It was when I watched the "Musicals, Great Musicals!" featurette on disc 2 that I got a surprise! You see, I am a HUGE Judy Garland fan! Clips from her old movies take up at least 30 minutes of the 90 minute featurette. So not only will Singin' in the Rain fans get their fill, Garland fans will too.
The dancing and musical numbers in this film are astounding. In my opinion, talent like this doesn't exist anymore in todays society.
This DVD is highly recommended. You are guaranteed to LOVE IT! ***Look out for "For Me and My Gal" starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland coming out on DVD in April!
Rating:
Summary: The Best -- None Ever Better
Review: It's all been said a million times...this is the great one, the best, and you're crazy if you miss it. Gorgeous Gene Kelly at his absolute best (a transcendent experience, to say the least!), lovely and delightful Debbie Reynolds, and the mesmerizing Cyd Charisse. Young Donald O'Connor is also here in the performance of his career. O'Connor is SO good as the loveably cynical Cosmo Brown that I'm boggled that the powers that be never utilized him to the full extent of his capabilities. As Bing Crosby said about him, "Is there anything he can't do?" Were the studios crazy or just plain blind to his abilities? Up to this point O'Connor had only ever played the adolescent in "B" movies (and he was back at it again after SITR), but they let him play an honest-to-goodness grown-up here, and oh, how wonderful he is! As for the sublime Mr. Kelly...Gene is ALWAYS magic, and here he is at his peak. Please don't miss this...it ought to be part of everyone's movie library.
Rating: 
Summary: Glorious, Glorious!
Review: This was a very, very glorious movie starring brillant Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Conner. All three of them were good, however I cannot give Jean Hagan enough credit for playing the "dumb blonde." She outshone Donald O'Conner, Debbie Reynolds...and I think maybe even Gene Kelly. Movie fans might disagree with me here, but I think she was very, very talented. My favorite song was not "Singin' In The Rain" nor "Make 'em Laugh" or even "Good Morning," and I disliked "Broadway Ballet..." my favorite was the catchy "Dreaming Of You." I said people might disagree with my liking Jean Hagan more than Gene Kelly...but they will disagree with me even more on "Dreaming Of You." Though it is a good number, the title track gets a bit tiring sometimes. Having loved "The Band Wagon" starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse I thought Cyd Charisse would show the same glory she did before...however that is not true. Obviously this movie was made WAY before "Brigadoon" or "The Band Wagon" because Cyd does barely anything in this film besides look silly in her ugly Catwoman-like costume in the movie premiere quickys and look unhealthy (for us modern-day watchers)in the Broadway Ballet when she is smoking a very long cigarette. To top it all off, I have to give Millard Mitchell some credit for his "big director" type of character. He is comparable to the real-life Harry Cohn or even Louis B. Mayer himself.
Rating:
Summary: What a Glorious Feeling, Indeed!
Review: Everybody remembers the scene. It's the one where he walks along the street, dancing, and singin' in the rain. The musical sequence has yet to be surpassed by any film -- even my all-time-favorite musical, "Grease" (1978), doesn't stand a chance. In fact, there's another great musical number in "Singin' in the Rain," with Donald O'Connor throwing his body around like a rag doll. Even though the singin' in the rain number is the infamous trademark of the film and musicals everywhere, my personal favorite is "Make 'em Laugh." Not many people know, however, that Gene Kelly had a 103 degree fever during the filming of the infamous scene -- a dangerous thing to do, in retrospect, considering that he was flailing about and working up a sweat in pouring water with such a high temperature. But even then, not many people know that the "rain water" pouring down on the joyously cheesy street was actually composed of water and milk. The milk was added to the mix in an effort to achieve the effect of raindrops showing up on screen. (Mel Gibson noted once that most of the time during the filming of "Braveheart" it was raining around them, but it was basically impossible to notice any rainfall in the film since the sheets of liquid were so thin.) "Singin' in the Rain" can probably be called the greatest musical of all time, even though my guilty pleasure is "Grease" (how outdated the film is, and yet how amusing it remains!). Every serious filmgoer knows this movie, and just yesterday as I watched Britain's countdown to the greatest musical ever made, I noted that "Singin' in the Rain" was high on the list ("Grease" was no. 1, although any list that posts "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Musical" higher on a list than "Singin' in the Rain" can't be trusted). Don Lockwood (Kelly) is a silent film star in 1927, an ex-musician living an on-screen romance with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) and letting the publicity take their screen relationship to a whole new level (think Ben and Jen's recent tabloid romance). The press loves to think that its two biggest stars are the nation's cutest couple, but in reality Lockwood despises Lamont, and Lamont -- having read trashy magazines -- believes their relationship to be factual. "Oh, Donny!" Lina cries. "You couldn't kiss my like that and not mean it just a teensy bit!" Lockwood: "Meet the greatest actor in the world -- I'd rather kiss a tarantula." Lina: "You don't mean that." Lockwood: "I don't? Hey Joe, get me a tarantula!" When the silent film studio begins the transition from silent film to new "talkies," it means that Lockwood will have to take acting lessons in able to learn to truly be able to act, and Lamont -- a squeaky-voiced young lady -- will have to learn to learn proper grammar. (Some scenes with a grammar instructor reminded me of "My Fair Lady," truth be told, although it was filmed 12 years afterwards.) Lockwood meets a young girl named Kathy Seldon (Debbie Reynolds), who refuses to fall victim to his Hollywood charm but eventually learns to love the guy after he gets her out of a tight squeeze or two. Meanwhile, Lockwood's pal, Cosmo (O'Connor), suggests that they start to stage film musicals instead of feature "talkies" -- that way, all Lockwood needs to do is sing and dance, something he already excels at. ("Make a musical! The new Don Lockwood: he yodels! He jumps about to music!") But people want Lockwood and Lamont, not Lockwood by himself, and the prospect of losing money is not a bright prospect for the film company. So Lina is filmed in the musicals with him, and towards the end of our film, sweet young Kathy dubs over Lina's voice and is given no credit for the task. Lamont is too embarrassed to admit that she can't sing, and so she blackmails the film distributor -- if they credit Kathy at the end of her new feature film, she'll take legal action. And so comes the climatic finale on stage as Lockwood reveals the true singer behind the film (ironic, since it was Lamont herself who dubbed over Reynolds' voice during the sequence). As Roger Ebert noted, the scene where Lockwood bursts onto stage and fingers out Kathy from the crowd of onlookers is corny, but it's sweet and exactly the time of emotionally uplifting moment that is rarely made nowadays. Gene Kelly's notorious cruelty on the set of "Singin' in the Rain" has become a sort of folklore, and it's true. He berated the actors if they messed up a single dance number. O'Connor later admitted that he was extremely frightened to make a single mistake, afraid that Kelly would lash out at him. That strictness doesn't shine through Kelly's character in "Singin' in the Rain." In fact, many of the dance moves (such as the frantic splashing in the puddles) look quite haphazard, but they were all choreographed to an extreme. Is that why the film is highly regarded as perhaps the definitive American musical? That probably has something to do with it. I think it's mostly the joy of it all, though -- bright, cheery, happy, and uplifting, the film is one of the most purely fun films of all time. It doesn't demand anything like some films, but it gives a lot back. The ads for "Singin' in the Rain" promised a glorious feeling, and in that way the film lives up to its slogan. It is fun and bright and glorious and entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously, but it offers the viewer a chance to experience something quite rare -- an all-around great movie. What a glorious feeling, indeed.
Rating:
Summary: when the dancing added to the storyline---gene did this
Review: Can't add anything to what has already been said re: this being one of the best musicals ever made, except that this was one of the finest examples of what Mr Kelly had hoped to do with his dancing: use it to help move the story along. In the past, musicals had used songs and dances as mere entertaining sidelines. Mr Kelly sought to create dances which would add to your understanding of the character and help tell the story better. He did this here, as well as in Summer Stock, Thousands Cheer, On the Town and a little known, but very enjoyable Living in a Big Way. He was not only a fabulous dancer and an excellent actor, he was one very intelligent man. I feel lucky to have known him. Even at age 82, he was still handsome, well-built, huggable and with a great mind and a fabulous Irish smile. Thank you Gene!
Rating:
Summary: Can't Help But Love This Great Film
Review: When SINGING IN THE RAIN was released, people were certain it was Oscar material. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS had won the previous year, and certainly this was a more spectacular film. It did not win the Oscar that year. Cecil B. De Mille's THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH won the honor. The academy preferred Betty Hutton, Charlton Heston, James Stewart as a clown escaping the police, and the great train wreck scene of this film over the song and dance numbers of Gene Kelley, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O'Connor. Over the years audiences seem to love this film, which is often considered the greatest Hollywood musical, or at least the greatest MGM musical, and are probably more familiar with it than the Academy Award Winner. I remember the first time I saw SINGING IN THE RAIN. It was pre-cable, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, when I was in the sixth grade. With nothing better to do, I watched this movie and was mesmerized. Even though I had seen THE WIZARD OF OZ many times, and even got to stay up late and watch THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, I had never seen a movie quite like this one. Though I will have to admit THE SOUND OF MUSIC is my favorite movie musical, SINGING IN THE RAIN got me addicted to film. The reason this film has lasting value is that it works. We genuinely like the characters so we hope they fall in love. The musical numbers, though not originally written for the film, fit together. The dancing can transport the viewer to another time and place. Though the plot may be simplistic, it is sincere entertainment. We see three great performers, perhaps at their best (though I would argue that Kelley is slightly, but just slightly better in AMERICAN IN PARIS) in a film that could never be duplicated today. The two disk DVD set has an added bonus of a second disk containing a history of MGM musicals produced by Arthur Freed. This historical piece which includes snippets of other MGM greats such as SHOWBOAT, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, THE HARVEY GIRLS, THE WIZARD OF OZ, and GIGI is definitely a treat.
Rating:
Summary: Gene Kelly's Classic Performance
Review: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is a classic musical, and the one for which the great Gene Kelly will be most fondly remembered. Dancer Kelly may seem an odd choice for the role of ham actor Don Lockwood, but actually he's not. The character, after all, is a silent film actor, and therefore must communicate using body language -- just as a dancer does. He doesn't become a talking actor until late in the film -- and even then, he is a musical actor, rather than a straight dramatic one. Kelly's performance is indeed a classic, and he is supported superbly by Jean Hagen (whose demur facial expressions in the first part of the film -- before she says a word -- contrast hilariously with what is revealed to be a shrill speaking voice), Debbie Reynolds, and of course the adorable Donald O'Connor, with whom Kelly performs dazzling tap duets to "Fit as a Fiddle" and "Moses Supposes." O'Connor also gets to dance the riotously funny "Make 'Em Laugh" and is joined by Kelly and the charming Debbie Reynolds in the "Good Morning" number. And last but certainly not least, there is Kelly's joyous, classic "Singin' in the Rain" and his masterfully choreographed "Broadway Melody" ballet, which is supposed to be part of "The Dancing Cavalier," the musical film in which Don Lockwood is starring. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is a witty movie filled with great musical moments. And Kelly's performance is a CLASSIC.
Rating:
Summary: One of the GREATEST Hollywood Musicals Ever Made
Review: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is one of my favorite movie musicals, if not my favorite. The screenplay, by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, is laugh-out-loud funny and unlikely ever to seem dated; the score is tuneful; the dancing is superb (of course -- it's got Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds!); every number has terrific energy. Kelly, cast against type as the ham actor Don Lockwood, gives a charming and memorable performance, not least in the famous title number, an immortal moment in Hollywood musicals. Donald O'Connor is hilarious, especially in "Make 'Em Laugh," which must be one of the funniest numbers ever filmed. Debbie Reynolds is adorable and makes a fine dancing partner for the great Kelly, and Jean Hagen is perfect as the proverbial silent film actress with the dreadful speaking voice. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which the hysterically frustrated director keeps telling Lina (Hagen) to "speak into the mike." It's priceless comedy. The parodies of early talking pictures in this movie (like the out-of-sync dubbing in "The Duelling Cavalier") are masterfully done. As a satire on the era that saw the transition from silent films to "talkies", and as a joyous song and dance entertainment, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is a great, great movie. You absolutely must see it.
Rating:
Summary: Gene Kelly's finest movie!
Review: I really don't know what to say about this film that hasn't already been said ad nauseum, so I'll keep this review short and sweet. If you are a fan of good movies, and especially a fan of musicals, then you absolutely must buy this film right now! In fact, why are you still reading this? Go put this in your shopping cart immediately! You won't be disappointed.
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