Singin' in the Rain

I'm starting off with my favorite musical of all-time. It's got the best singing, the best dancing, and the best plot of all the musicals that I enjoy.

Singin' in the Rain begins with a credit sequence while Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor literally sing in the rain. I can't believe that this musical was suggested by the song "Singin' in the Rain." Betty Comden and Adolph Green were definite geniuses when it comes to writing musicals. (They also did On the Town, Good News, The Band Wagon, It's Always Fair Weather, etc.)

The film really starts at the premiere of The Royal Rascal starring Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) and Don Lockwood (Kelly). Before the stars of the film show up, several silent movie star stereotypes walk down the red carpet -- there's Zelda (Rita Moreno, believe it or not!), the flapper, accompanied by her older husband and the exotic star with her Rudolph Valentino-esque husband. Then it's Cosmo Brown (O'Connor)! The crowd isn't as impressed by the studio musician, no matter how close of friends he is with Don Lockwood. Then, complete with a police escort, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) arrive! The gossip columnist gushes about the duo, saying they're a household name, like bacon and eggs! She convinces Don to tell the story of how he got to where he is today.

Don protests at first, but acquises, sharing his motto: "Dignity. Always dignity." Of course, Cosmo features prominently in Don's story, as they have been friends since childhood. The contrast between the spin Don puts on his journey to Hollywood and the scenes illustrating the reality is great! The first number -- "Fit as a Fiddle" shows Don and Cosmo while they are in vaudeville, playing the fiddle and tap dancing in awesome checked suits. They go from vaudeville to Hollywood, where both of them become studio musicians, playing mood music for the silent film actors. But opportunity knocks (literally!) and Don becomes a stuntman. His ensuing stunts include an aeroplane crash while on the ground, driving a motorcycle off a cliff, and an exploding cabin. Meanwhile, as a stuntman, Lina brushes off Don when he tries to introduce himself. But in her presence, Don is given a contract by the studio head and he gets to brush her off! It's a fitting start to their relationship.

The Royal Rascal is a costume drama, complete with longish hair and lavish costumes. The end is shown, and includes Don in a big fight, intersected with Lina crying, "Phillippe!" It ends with a kiss, and Don and Lina come out to thank the audience for their applause. Lina's voice is revealed off-stage, and despite being a beautiful girl, she has a voice like...like...no one on earth! She also buys into the publicity the studio puts out about her "romance" with Don, and wants him to accompany her to the party. The studio publicist convinces her that they should go in separate cars to break up the mob.

So Cosmo and Don go in Cosmo's car, and Don is bemoaning the cooked up romance to Cosmo when the car gets a flat! And Don's adoring public just happens to find him and start demanding souvenirs. Don tells Cosmo to call him a cab, so Cosmo agrees, and says, "You're a cab!" Don manages to find his own escape route, and climbs up a trolley and jumps into a moving car. Aaaahhh! screams the girl (Reynolds). You're a criminal, I've seen your face before! She stops and tells a police officer to arrest this man, and finds out that he's not a common criminal, just Don Lockwood, Hollywood star! She introduces herself to Don as Kathy Seldon and offers to take him to Beverly Hills. Don decides that he likes this girl, and starts putting the moves on her. (I have to say, I love how she sees he's coming on to her and decides to play it cool.) Kathy is not familiar with his films -- if you've seen one, you've seen 'em all. Dueling and Lina Lamond, right? Don doesn't like the fact that she isn't falling for his persona, but Kathy sings out, "Here we are, Sunset and Camden!" Don finds out that she's a stage actress and is planning to make it big in New York City. He leaves, but only after menacing her and then spoiling the effect by closing the door on his jacket and proclaiming, let me tear myself away from your presence! But, as we soon find out, Kathy is a performer from the floor show at the Cocoanut Grove and will be part of the entertainment at the very same party Don is going to!

Don enters the party, and everyone rejoices. Now they can show the movie, as Cosmo says, "You gotta show a movie at a party; it's a Hollywood law." The advent of sound pictures are introduced, and everyone pronounces it a fad -- or is it? But the live entertainment is here -- in the form of a big cake that Kathy just happens to pop out of! "All I Do is Dream of You" is their big dance number, and it features a very jazzy Charleston. Don captures Kathy before she can leave with the rest of the girls. He flirts with her, and Lina becomes jealous. Kathy decides to take the situation in her own hand and tries to throw a cake in Don's face, but he ducks and she gets Lina...who is very, very upset. Don tries to follow Kathy, but she bolts and he can't keep up with her car.

A few weeks later, Don begins filming the next Lockwood-Lamont picture, The Dueling Cavalier, another costume drama. While walking through the studio soundstage, Cosmo and Don talk about the fact that they can't find Kathy. Cosmo remarks that she's the first girl who hasn't fallen for Don's line, and that's why he's still interested. Cosmo decides to cheer up Don with my absolute favorite number in this film, "Make 'Em Laugh." It's the greatest mix of comedy bits ever, and the end -- when Cosmo runs up the walls -- always makes me pause.

The Dueling Cavalier starts filming, and Lina is jealous because Don is still looking for Kathy. It turns out that Lina is the one who got Kathy fired from the Cocoanut Grove. They start filming a love scene, and trade insults instead of romantic platitudes. But wait! The studio is being shut down -- The Jazz Singer is such a hit that they are changing to sound too! And they're going to be starting out with their best foot forward -- The Dueling Cavalier is going to be a talkie! Uh-oh...what about Lina's voice?

As the studio transitions to sound, there is a montage of musicals being filmed, including the songs "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" and "I've Got a Feeling You're Foolin'." Then we see "Beautiful Girl" being filmed, complete with Kathy Seldon in the chorus! It's a slightly bizarre number, but is a great fashion show of the 1920s, and also allows for the "discovery" of Kathy Seldon. Cosmo and Don show up to collect Kathy.

Kathy and Don walk outside the studio, and it is revealed that she does read the fan magazines...and has seen all of his movies. Kathy admits that she said "some awful things that night" but all is forgiven. Don wants to tell her something, but "I'm such a ham...I can't do it without the proper setting." So Don takes Kathy onto a soundstage and serenades her with "You Were Meant for Me." It's a nice romantic number.

Who else is benefiting from the talking movies? Diction coaches, of course! Lina is having issues with her coach -- cahn't versus keen't. But Don has excellent diction; he can even roll his "R"s properly. Cosmo shows up at the end of the session, and one of the best numbers, "Moses Supposes" comes from the diction coach's book. Enthusiastic tapping by both, and O'Connor really manages to keep up with Kelly!

After the brief interuption, The Dueling Cavalier begins filming again, this time also recording for sound. Intitially, there are issues with the microphone -- Lina can't remember where it is, then it picks up her heart beat, and finally they end up sewing it high up on the shoulder of her dress. Don decides that he doesn't like the dialogue given to him, and chooses to go with "I love you, I love you, I love you" in increasing intensity.

The Dueling Cavalier has a sneak preview at a theater, and it doesn't quite turn out as the spectacular success that they wanted. You can hear Don's breeches as he moves around, and the sound is pretty awful. Finally, the synchronization of the sound goes wrong, and Lina's character says "Yes! Yes! Yes" while the villian protests "No! No! No!" The audience laughs hyesterically at the film, and plans to never see another Lockwood-Lamont film again. Lina thinks that the movie was good and loud, while Don tries to slink away.

Back at Don's mansion, Kathy and Cosmo try to cheer Don up. It could be worse -- well, at least he could go back to vaudeville. Or dig ditches. Or block hats! But Don gets the idea to rework The Dueling Cavalier as a musical. (How he, as an actor, is able to make these decision, I don't know, but I suppose if it saves the movie the studio would be happy, despite the additional cost of reshooting the film. Maybe I'm getting a little too technical wtih my analysis of this, but still...) The trio sings "Good Morning," an infectuously cheery song and dance number. But after collapsing on the coach, Don realizes that Lina will be a sticking point -- she can't sing, dance, or even talk! Kathy brings up the best part of the preview -- Yes!Yes!Yes! and No!No!No! Cosmo gets a great idea and invents lip synching -- Kathy could be Lina's voice. Don doesn't want Kathy to throw away her career, but he agrees after Kathy says she'll only do it for the one movie.

Don drops Kathy off at home, leading into the most famous song and dance number in the movies, "Singin' in the Rain." It's justifiably considered on of the best moments in musical history. It's got good singing and wonderful dancing. It looks so spontaneous, but knowing the fact that there was so much planning going into creating the precisely correct environment for it just adds to my enjoyment.

Don and Cosmo pitch the idea to the studio head, and it's greenlighted. But it needs a new name -- and Cosmo comes up with The Dueling Mamie. But his second idea, The Dancing Cavalier wins out. He also comes up with a great new plot -- a modern setting, which would enable them to use modern dance numbers and the Charleston, but a dream sequence, set back in the French revolution era to keep some of the costume scenes. Ah, what a genius Cosmo is!

Meanwhile, Kathy sings "Would You" for the dubbing. It's obviously not Debbie Reynolds singing -- the voice is too low -- and in fact it's Jean Hagen dubbing for her!

Don also has to tell the studio head about how the modern bits are coming along, and he begins to describe the "Broadway Melody" section. I really love the beginning of the number, when Kelly is the young hoofer trying to get into Hollywood, but the nightclub parts with Cyd Charrise don't do much for me. And of course, there's the big scarf dance number. They had to use airplane fans to get that scarf where they wanted it! The studio head listens to the description of the number, and then remarks, I can't picture it, I'll have to wait until you shoot it.

Lina eventually finds out about Kathy and Don -- and that she won't be getting credit for her voice or singing. She threatens the studio. "What do you tink I am, dumb or something?" She wants to keep Kathy on as her voice permenantly, and uses her contract to threaten the studio head. The studio head is actually kind of a nice guy -- people don't do things like that! Lina responds, "People! I ain't people!" Needless to say, she manages to intimidate the studio head enough that things go her way.

Another premiere, this time it's The Dancing Cavalier. The movie is a great success, and goes to Lina's head. She threatens Don, and the studio head is torn between both their arguments. Lina ends up going too far -- threatening to take over the studio -- and so she gets to do a speech. And she's going to sing -- with Kathy doing her vocals, of course. Don threatens her, and Kathy says she'll do it, but she never wants to see Don again! "Singin' in the Rain" in A flat is what Kathy/Lina decide to sing, but the boys pull the curtain open, revealing Lina to be a fraud. Even Cosmo manages to sing a verse for Lina before she realizes what's going on.

Kathy takes off to leave the theater. Stop that girl! says Don. She's the one that you've loved tonight. He serenades her with "You are My Lucky Star," complete with Cosmo leading the orchestra. The film ends with Kathy and Don by a billboard for the movie Singin' in the Rain with Lockwood and Seldon. They kiss, and it's the end!

I LOVE this movie. Gene Kelly - fantastic. Debbie Reynolds - adorable. Donald O'Connor - my singing and dancing boyfriend! The songs are so fantastic -- "Fit As a Fiddle" with it's wonderful coordinated dances (take that, Oscar Levant!), "All I Do is Dream of You" ("Why, if it isn't Ethel Barrymore!"), "Make 'Em Laugh," "Beautiful Girl," "Moses Supposes," "Good Morning"....fantastic songs! Excellent dancing. My only minor quibble is the Broadway Melody dance sequence that doesn't really fit in so well. But I love the interaction between Kelly and O'Connor.

However, I am a little disappointed by the DVD. Initially it seems to have a whole bunch of really interesting commentary -- Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Cyd Charisse, Kathleen Freeman, Stanely Donen, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Baz Luhrmann (?), and Rudy Behlmer. But it isn't like they watch the movie and talk about what is happening on the screen as it happens. No, their commentary is recorded ahead of time and spliced in when it seems relevant. The worst is Baz Luhrmann, who seems to be included just because he's done some good modern musicals (Moulin Rouge and Strictly Ballroom). But a close runner-up is film historian Rudy Behlmer. He tells this long elaborate story about how Cosmo was originally supposed to be played by Oscar Levant. And then he never manages to explain why Donald O'Connor got the role. From what I understand, Levant had some kind of alcohol/mental problems after An American in Paris and never really worked after that. But I had to do the research myself to find that out -- despite being a librarian, I would have liked to know that during the commentary!

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