Rating: Summary: My favorite movie of all time! Review: This was my first Gene Kelly movie and I thought it was absolutly brilliant. I watched it about six times in two days. The plot is exceptionally funny and made me laugh constantly. Every song and or dance in this film is fantastic. The plot is also very good. "Singin' In the Rain" is definately among Gene Kelly's best films.
Rating: Summary: the best of Kelly Review: this is one of my favorite movies. It is a hilarious musical about silent film star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) on the verge of the age of sound. with his squeaky-voiced co-star, Lena Lamont, his best friend, (donald O'connor) and the spunky woman (Debbie Reynolds) who is the first to bring him to reallity. An alltime classic and must see.
Rating: Summary: You'll be singin' even if it ain't rainin' Review: Like most of us, I grew up with the title song since as long as I can remember. I've seen snippets here and there, but it wasn't until over the weekend that I saw the film in its entirety. I got this one because of the AFI 100. Shallow reasons aside, I'm glad I did. This has some great stuff in these two discs. Not only did you get a great movie, but you get a wonderful education on genre of film that is uniquely American.First, the film. I loved it. The premise was interesting and solid. As I'm sure you know by now, it's about a famous silent film romantic duo whose careers become jepordized with the arrival of a little talking film called "The Jazz Singer." The male half, played by Gene Kelley, has no problem because he comes from a vaudville background, singing and dancing with his partner, played by Donald O'conner. But the other half of the duo Lina Lamont played by Jean Hagen, has problems. Obviously hired for her looks and not screeching brooklyn whine, and thus the dilema. If you took the music out, you would still have a film. The acting and pace are strong enough to keep you interested. Jean Hagan is pricless as the self-absorbed air head. The phrase "I caaan't stend 'im!" will stick in your head well after the movie is over. "Singing" never tries to be more that it actually is. A great light hearted musical-comedy and that why it works. The dancing is nothing short of spectacular and while I did like the title song, my favorites were "Make 'em Laugh" and "Broadway Melodie". I liked Gene Kelly in "American in Paris" and the numbers in this film blows anything offered by that movie away. I also have a high respect for Kelly. The movie is co-directed by him and he easily could have made this movie showcasing only his talent. Instead he utilizes and celebrates the talents of others. Donald O'Connor as well as Cyd Charisse (man those legs!) are a perfect examples. The sets are stunning! Now on to the DVD Features. More than you can shake a stick at! On disc one you have a great feature that shows signifigant movies that bridge silent film to talkies, including "The Jazz Singer." When I saw this, I felt I struck gold. The digital restoration of "Singer" and the others are amazing. Nothing is done half-heartedly here. The two documentaries on disc 2 proves my point further. These are not 20 minute snippets. One feature, hosted by Debbie Reynolds is about the making "Singing in the Rain" is over 30 minutes and is great. You get Donald O'Connor's take on the amazing gymnastics of "Make 'em Laugh" as well as some great stories by Charrise and Reynolds. The other documentary "Musicals great Musicals" is a whopping hour and a half! This was by far the best gem on the disc. Going through the history of the movie musical and chronicles producer Arthur Freeds career. My wife and I soaked this one up like a sponge. This even has make-up test from the Wizard of Oz and recovered footage from "Annie Get Your Gun" with Judy Garland before she was fired. Bottom line: Get this one. Fans of the genre will be drooling and those who want an introduction to the genre will be tapping their feet before the first number is finished.
Rating: Summary: One of my faves Review: Singin in the rain is most definitely one of my favorite movies. It is a really fun movie to watch, even if you aren't a big fan of musicals. Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds are a great trio in this movie. I have seen it at least 20 times and it never gets old. I highly reccomend it!
Rating: Summary: A Classic for All Review: I know you've heard it all before, but I'm going to tell you again. This is a top notch film. The glittering costumes, the glittering characters, and the glittering dance steps make this classic musical a blinding, glittering experience. There's not a whole lot I can say about this film in only 1,000 words, but I'll try and keep it short: The songs and the tap-dancing are probably the best parts of this film. No one can possibly keep their eyes off Gene Kelly when he gets started. And Debbie Reynolds is just enchanting. I have to say, though, my favorite character is Lena Lamont, the fairly insane movie star who makes "more money than Calvin Coolidge... put together!" Who can resist a dumb blonde every now and then. A must see for the whole, extended family. And don't forget friends as well.
Rating: Summary: This is What DVD's Are For!! Review: Aside from the widely accepted fact that this 1952 MGM Musical version of "Singin' In The Rain" is one of the finest pictures ever made, it now ranks as one of the best Special Edition DVD collections ever assembled. Sadly, the routine packaging for this Special Edition does not communicate the exceptional preparation that went into production of this two-disc set. This collection represents the finest that MGM ever offered, and though poorly marketed and promoted, this edition is a Treasure! Two Thumbs... Five Stars... A++++!! Ironically, this Special Edition DVD of MGM's classic film is released by... Warner Home Video. (Somewhere, Jack Warner is having a good laugh over this one!) Disc One includes audio commentary from Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman (filmed shortly before her recent passing), Stanley Donen, Betty Comden, Adolph Green; with added commentary from contemporary filmmaker, Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge). In addition, there are several "Easter Eggs" that allow the viewer to watch related bonus film footage on the subject at hand. The perfectly restored Technicolor film is as brilliant as the day it was filmed. Disc Two includes two documentaries; one of which is hosted by Debbie Reynolds herself. The documentaries integrate classic interviews from Hollywood legends including Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Vincent Minnelli, and many more. In addition, there is a stills gallery; film outtakes; and a magnificent collection of historic film musicals from the 1920's and 1930's. This is film preservation at it's finest, and everyone involved deserves high praise for this wonderful collection. Bravo!
Rating: Summary: Triumph of the Imagination Review: What is there about this movie that makes it so uniquely exhilarating, inspiring, even profound? After pitching "Broadway Melody," Don Lamont is told by his producer, "I can't visualize it. I'll have to see the movie." "Singin' in the Rain" is a film that confronts both technique (stage elocution) and technology ("talkies") and demonstrates through its story and form that movies are a child of the human imagination. For me, the key scene is Don Lamont's sharing of his imaginative vision with Kathy on the sound stage serving as the set for his "You Were Meant for Me" number. We as spectators are witness to the entire fabrication, its basic pretense and artifice, yet we're as irresistibly drawn into Don's dream as is Kathy. The triumph of "Singin' in the Rain" is that it constructs two levels of imaginative activity. The first is characterized by willful control and a passive surrendering to the mechanical; the second demonstrates the power of the imagination to transform artifice into art, technology into a human voice and vision. It's the "imagination" that Coleridge distinguishes from "fancy," a creative force that puts us in touch with the best parts of human nature. We exit the theater prepared for the outside blast because Kelley's encounter with it on a rainy street has provided not merely an escape but an alternative vision of reality, a realization that our dreams are capable of informing our lives. On this DVD version, the edges are sharper than ever, the colors are richly saturated and even gaudy, the sound is full and enveloping. No film depends more on such excess and artifice to demonstrate its main point: when technology does not replace but is transformed by human imagination, we are able to see beyond our wildest dreams.
Rating: Summary: Dance is great Review: With all the extra stuff, this dvd is tops. The movie is so great b/c of the dance scenes. The story is okay, but the story alone makes it a chick flick. The dance stuff is awesome, and this is a good deal
Rating: Summary: One of the best musicals ever. Period. No argument. Review: If you like musicals and dancing, and you haven't seen Singin' In the Rain, then you should be ashamed of yourself. Just kidding (well.....). This musical has top-notch everything: dancing and musical numbers ("Moses Suposes", "Good Morning", "Make 'Em Laugh", and of course "Singin' In the Rain"), humor (the hilarious Donald O'Connor as sidekick Cosmo Brown), great acting performances (Gene Kelly as movie star Don Lockwood, and especially Jean Hagen as Don's partner in film, Lina Lamont) and a sweet if not simple plot about love and Hollywood's transition from silent to talking films. Gene Kelly is mesmerizing and magical during his "Singin' in the Rain" number, one of the best moments in cinema. The whole movie is just so much fun. The disc of special features is pretty good, with two interesting documentaries, one strictly about Singin' in the Rain (hosted by Debbie Reynolds) and one about Arthur Freed/MGM musicals. The movie was digitally remastered and looks wonderful, with bright colors and crisp clear images.
Rating: Summary: A classic of all classics! Review: One of the best movie musicals made. Classic dance scenes with all three actors, but especially with the genius of Kelly and O'Connor. O'Conner's dance in "Make'um Laugh" is hysterical and manic. Kelly and O'Connor's "speech class" dance is amazing if you watch it on slo-mo. The footwork is beyond anything I've seen anywhere except maybe Fred Astaire. They make it look so effortless! Debbie Reynolds keeps up with the boys so well, she blends right in with sheer talent. And one can't forget the title dance of "Singing" with Kelly. I always forget whatever troubles I have watching it. It's so optimistic and joyful! I've watched this film over and over for the atmosphere, the dancing, and the music. Vintage 20s/30s and disney all wrapped up in one show. Fabulous and Fun!
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