Rating: 
Summary: Could've Been
Review: This movie is an absolute delight to see. The cast is tight and the music thoroughly enjoyable. It is especially fresh given today's films with dark sarcasm and anti-heros. What truely boggles the mind is the full-screen release! Was this movie originally released in a 4:3 format? I think probably not. And to see the effort that was put into restoring the soundtrack yet none was spent, seemingly, on trying to find a suitable original in the theatrical format. In this day of HDTV monitors and widescreen signals, this is unforgivable. I sincerely hope that this situation will be addressed in the future
Rating: 
Summary: New Restoration Gorgeous! Commentary okay.
Review: The undisputed, best musical of all time with a boyishly charming Gene Kelly at the helm. With witty banter, romance in Gene's eye and a playful Donald Olsen, there isn't much not to love about this classic MGM film. The only reason I hesitated to buy this special edition was because I already had the last DVD version which is a fairly clean print. The new 2002 restoration is even more gorgeous and one really has to squint to catch any remaining specks. I haven't had a chance to compare the two DVD versions in detail, but the special edition also seems to make the hues much richer and brighter. As for the extras, well, the documentaries tell the film's backstory and it's neat to see clips from movies where the Arthur Freed songs were originally used. The one with Bing Crosby, for example, is quite amusing. I would have liked to see more outtakes and scenes that hit the cutting room floor. There must be more than the one they included of Debbie Reynolds singing 'You Are My Lucky Star.' Also, with so many different interviews stitched together, the audio commentary track leaves something to be desired. While it's nice to hear from the likes of Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds, Don Olsen, Co-Director Stanley Donen and the scriptwriters, it's a little disconcerting too, because it's evident they were all recorded separately. Sometimes the commentary doesn't match up with the scenes, as would be the case if only the director were commenting, for example. Also, rather than hear others talk about Debbie Reynolds' struggles as a novice dancer on the film, it would have been more appropriate to hear Reynolds herself on the audio track commenting on Gene Kelly's reputation as a task master and her difficulties learning the dances. All in all, Warner Brothers added lots of extras for the special 50th anniversary edition and were careful to explain many of the allusions to previous films made within the movie. Gene Kelly would probably be happy that one of his signature films has endured time so well. If you haven't seen it yet, I also recommend that 'Anatomy of a Dancer' documentary that PBS did on Gene. It's pretty comprehensive and it's a fun look at his life.
Rating: 
Summary: Singin' in the Rain DVD is divine
Review: The 2 documentaries on the supplementary 2nd DVD are both excellect. "What a Glorious Feeling" (30 min.) has great interviews with Cyd Charisse, Donald O'Connor, Betty Comden & Adolph Green and Kathleen Freeman (Lina's voice coach). These are interspersed with great clips illustrating the comments. Former is hosted by Debbie Reynold. "Movies Great Movies" (86 min.)is even better. A pretty comprehensive summary of the Freed Unit at MGM. These include interviews with Saul Chaplin, Michael Kidd, Cyd Charisse, Comden & Green, Freed's daughter, Andre Previn, many more. This has longer many more complete clips from the films. An excellent demonstration of how they filmed the dancing on the ceiling sequence danced by Astaire in "Royal Wedding". On that second DVD there are also original studio recordings including alternate takes and extended musical sequences from the Broadway Ballet. I haven't listened to the film commentary yet. This DVD set is a great value. The film itself looks fantastic. The image is almost 3 dimensional.
The sound has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 and has a pleasant spaciousness. The original mono track is there too. Now it sounds kind of flat.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not letterbox
Review: WHY, oh WHY, would they release a brand new revised edition that doesn't have a letterbox version???
What a waste!
Rating:
Summary: Why release this if it isn't widescreen?
Review: Really, what's the point? Who on earth would buy this? I guess if folks don't mind losing up to 50% of the original movie, then they should go ahead and get this edition. Me, I'll wait to see the WHOLE movie when they release it widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: Singin' In the Rain
Review: This is the best movie ever made!!! Gene Kelly is a genius!! He is so smooth and graceful when he dances. He makes it all look so effortless. Donald O'Connor is also a great dancer and his talent really shines through in this movie. A little movie trivia: Debbie Reynolds (Carrie Fisher's mom) was only 17 when filming began. She also was not a dancer, she had studied gymnastics. Gene Kelly taught her how to dance for this movie. Oh, to be taught by Gene Kelly!!!
Rating:
Summary: richard d. barszcz please pull your head out!
Review: Sorry Richard, but SINGIN' IN THE RAIN was released in May of 1952, in optical mono sound. SITR was never released in stereo to the theaters....always mono. Now, later Gene Kelly musicals like Brigadoon an Les Girls were issued in 35mm 4-track mag, but SITR was too early. Anyhow, The new DVD will knock your socks off!
Rating:
Summary: Let's Give The Correct Facts
Review: "Singin' In The Rain" was filmed in 1951. It was never recorded or released in 4 channel magnetic sound. WB (via MGM) is going to release the film using the surviving audio "stems" or "angles" to recreate a sort of stereo perspective in the upcoming remastered release on DVD and the limited theatrical showing using real Technicolor prints. These "stems" are separate audio tracks made during the music pre-recording process to insure that final balances for the film were perfect in the mono release prints. They were never intended to be used as stereo and were never released as such until the 70s when MGM did reconstruction work for LaserDisc. Unfortunately, unlike the audio business which does not allow records to be marked stereo if they are not, the MPAA has never monitored the use of stereo or 5.1 stereo nomenclature in home video/DVD releases. Too many are enchanced mono but do not say so. Again, the upcoming DVD of "Singin" will be remastered using a new process to enhance picture and the sound will be modest 5.1 stereo when elements make it possible. UPDATE: The new DVD is out. It is a visual and aural delight! SITR has never looked this good - ever. The sound is mostly mono with additional spread on the left and right from the use of available "stems". If you like you can listen in mono only or the "5.1" ehancement which gives more "air" to the sound. Great supplements and extras.
Rating:
Summary: MGM's Best
Review: This MGM's best musical. Gene Kelley fantastic especially the scene where he sings the title song in a down pore. The movie is about the begining of talking movies at the end of the silent era. The movie contains many of the innocents that were portrayed in the early years of Hollywood. Dennis O'Connor's ruitine "Make them laugh" is a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Best musical ever
Review: I don't claim to be a movie aficionado. Growing up in the pre-VCR days meant that about the only movies I saw were the few on network TV like "Wizard of Oz". I first saw this movie about 20 years ago at a college old-film festival and I loved it. I bought it a few months ago and happened to insist my 12 year old watch the "Make 'em Laugh" number. To my surprise, he loved it so much that for weeks after he would bring down a friend and insist they watch this old movie that had this funny song in it. Excellent and enjoyable family fare with no profanity or violence.
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