Review of Singin' in the Rain

            Singin’ in the Rain is a 1952 American musical comedy film (from google)

directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The film was only a modest hit when first

released, with O'Connor's Best Actor win at the Golden Globes and Comden and

Green's win at the Writers Guild of America Awards being the

 only major

recognitions. However, it was accorded its legendary status by

 contemporary critics.

It is now frequently described as one of the best musicals ever 

made,[2] topping the

AFI's 100 Years of Musicals list, and ranking fifth in its updated 

list of the greatest American films in 2007. (from google)

             The movie is a story about a popular movie star, Don

 lockwood ( Gene Kelly)

and Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). Don is a silent movie star. 

His studio,

Monumental Pictures, links him with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), a good looking

actress has a grating, sharp voice for their popularity. Lina thinks they are in love

but Don doesn’t.

             At the premiere, Don tells others his life history. Then, he jumps into Kathy’s

passing car to escape his fans. He makes fun on Kathy and she drops him off. They

meet again on a party later on. As a chorus girl, Kathy feels she’s in embracement

because of Don’s amusement. She pops out a cake to Don but it hits on Lina’s face.

Kathy leaves. After a week of searching, Don finks Kathy and builds relationship

with her. At the same time, sound film begins to get popular. The studio wants the

next Lockwood and Lamont film but they are suffered with Lina’s voice and some

technical problems. They have a bloody premiere; the new movie makes every one

laughs. Don wants Kathy’s help because of her good voice, she agrees.  Later, Don

and his friend, Cosmo Brown (Donald O’Connor) plans a new musical comedy film,

The Dancing Cavalier. Don used to be a jazz singer, in the movie he will sing and

dance and Lina is another major character. At the same time, Lina finds out that Don

is in love with Kathy. She sabotages the romantic between them in any way she can;

she even finds the leader of the studio, R.F. Anyway, the premiere of The Dancing

Cavalier is successful. Lina is asked to sing live, she does the lip sync. Kathy stands

behind the stage curtain and sings into the second one. Don, Cosmo, and R.F raise

the curtain and every one sees Kathy at the microphone. The sham comes; Lina is in

embarrassment. Kathy tries to run but Don introduces her as “the real star of the

film”.  They have a new film, Singin’ in the Rain. They kiss in front of the billboard of

the new film and the movie ends.

            I like this film very much. Directors make the film becomes

 not only a successful film but also a reflection of the society.

Setting and costumes are detailed and the acting is also good. From

 the film, I can see how aesthetic like at that time and their set 

of values. Kathy and Lina are the two female major 

characters in film; even though they live in different 

environments they have similarities. Both of them have 

blonde hair and fair skin. They have round shoulders lively 

smile; that make them maybe look charming and sweet, 

but not pale and delicate. There are shots show lines of their bodies (especially arms, legs

 and waist). We can see that these parts are beautiful and very healthy (not too thin to see 

bones). Different from the film stars we see now;

their foreheads are full and their faces are round. Now, thin bodies are more

popular than that. Aesthetic of beauty is changing. There are about ten

minutes for dancing and singing in the film, I think it’s good. That’s a plan for

the new Lockwood movie “The Dancing Cavalier”; information is included in

it. From that part, first, I can see that Jazz was really popular at that time.

Second, there were many people from different places who go to New York

and want to start a better life. Third, it illustrates some ideas about wealth,

position and something else. That’s a kind of compression between rich and

poor. In the new film, Don plays a dancer who is new in New York (America

developed fast in last century, perhaps people like him helps with the

development. New York is a big city in America and also a economic centre,) .

 

He is a good dancer but very poor, he comes

 and expects for opportunities. He

works hard and soon, he is in love with a 

young, pretty girl plays by Lina. She

leaves because he is poor, and when they

 meet again, the dancer’s life gets

much better. Still, she leaves (with a rich man again) but the dancer is not

suffered for too long; he has his work to do. Finally, he becomes a film star

because of his good qualities (hard working, tough and smart). At the last shot,

there are beautiful women in fancy, colourful, and strange (actually makes

them look sexy) dresses (seems that was popular at that time).

            Music is good. The film has many singing and dancing but almost no solo of

the instrument. Seems that musical theatre was very popular during that time. It

really catches my eyes.

             These are all my point of views of the movie. It’s a classic American movie

and really classic for reasons. In general, I like it very much!

 Lina is singing on stage in live

 Kathy

 Kathy, a chorus girl

 Don and Kathy kiss in front of the billboard of their new movie