Singing in the Rain: The Epitome of the Movie Musical

After reviewing my blog posts, I decided that it was time to write about a more uplifting and cheerful film, rather than the darker and more serious films I've recently written about. So today, instead of raining on everyone’s parade, I’m going to talk about Singing in the Rain. This is without a doubt my favorite movie musical. The talent both on screen and behind the camera is astounding, and the story line is as fresh and entertaining as it was when it debuted in 1952.

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The idea for Singing in the Rain was first dreamed up by MGM producer, Arthur Freed. Arthur Freed and his creative unit were regarded as MGM royalty throughout the movie musical era (roughly the 1940’s- the early 60’s).

Arthur Freed talking with Judy Garland on set (not sure of which film). Via. 

Freed got his start in the late 1920’s as a lyricist, collaborating most frequently with musical composer Ignacio Herbert Brown. Together, Freed and Brown wrote numerous hit songs of the 1920’s and 30’s, including “The Broadway Melody,” “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” and, of course, “Singin’ in the Rain.” Quickly hired by MGM, Freed went on to produce a series of successful movie musicals for the studio. Meet me in St. Louis, On the Town, Royal Wedding and Show Boat are just a few of the box office successes Freed created. (All of which are fantastic films that I highly recommend you check out!)

Poster for Musicals, Great Musicals, a documentary about MGM's Freed Unit. Via.

Following the overwhelming success of his 1951 Oscar-winning film, An American in Paris, Freed had the brilliant-  albeit slightly narcissistic - idea to produce a movie that would showcase all the hits of the Freed and Brown composition team.

Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Freed’s go-to screenwriters, were given the challenging task of writing a screenplay around the song list, having to think of ways to naturally fit in the already-established musical numbers. Since the majority of the songs had been written in the 1920’s and 1930’s, Comden and Green decided the songs would live most naturally in that setting- making the backdrop for the film the roaring 20’s and the birth of the “talkies.”

Kelly and O'Connor filming "Moses Supposes." Via.

Gene Kelly, being one of the main actors in the Freed unit, was already set to star in and co-direct the film. Veteran stage hoofer, Donald O'Connor was quickly named a shoe-in for the comic sidekick, Cosmo. The leading lady to play the role of Kathy, however, entailed a more extensive search. It was decided, that Kathy had to be played a new-comer; that way the character’s young, star-struck adoration would be completely realistic. Enter 19 year old Debbie Reynolds.

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Reynolds had signed a contract with MGM just a couple years prior, but as a singer- not a dancer. Consequentially after being cast in Singing in the Rain, Reynolds was given three different dance instructors, a rigorous rehearsal schedule, and only 3 months to accomplish the same level of expertise as Kelly and O'Connor. It was such a trying experienced that Reynolds said in later years, that childbirth and Singing in the Rain were the two most painful experiences of her life.

On her first day of filming, they were scheduled to shoot the dance number “Good Morning,” which in my opinion is one of the longest and most advanced dance sequences Reynolds has in the film (not exactly a easy first day on set). In the middle of filming, Reynolds became so frustrated and overwhelmed by Gene Kelly (who was known to be quite the perfectionists), that she ran off set to empty sound stage. She took refuge under a rehearsal piano, and sat there crying until pair of long legs appeared in front of the piano.  It was none other than dancer, Fred Astaire; he told her to come out from underneath the piano and asked her what was wrong. Reynolds cried that the dancing was too hard and that it wasn't easy for her like it was for him and Kelly. So Astaire had her sit through his own rehearsal. After an hour, he’d effectively showed her that dancing is always hard and challenging work- even for dancers with years of experience. Then Astaire told her to get back on set and finish the scene.  Reynolds went back to the set with Astaire’s advice, and, after 14 hours of filming, the scene was officially in the can. Later however, when Reynolds took off her little blue shoes, her feet were completely blistered and bloody. Astaire wasn't kidding.

Despite the trials and tribulations of filming, Singing in the Rain premiered in 1952 and quickly became a smash success. There’s something so timeless and effortlessly charming about this film. The interesting thing to me is that while Singing in the Rain depicts the lost silent era of Hollywood, the film itself was made right at the end of another Hollywood era. After Singing in the Rain, the Freed Unit and the rest of Hollywood had only a few more successful movie musicals. With the early 1960’s came the new wave of Hollywood; audiences no longer wanted to see happy-go-lucky musicals that took place in a universe where people sang and danced out their problems. They wanted to see movies that portrayed real life, along with real problems and real controversies. The world of musicals did not have a place in this new Hollywood. Right before Singing in the Rain premiered, Louis B. Mayer, the long-running head of MGM, was fired. Throughout his almost 30 years reign as President of MGM, Mayer’s aim was to make wholesome movies that depicted an idealized American dream; this dream however that was no longer realistic or, more importantly, acceptable by the 1960’s. Not long after Mayer was fired, the age of movie musicals- and essentially the entire studio era- came to an end.

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What makes Singing in the Rain so iconic is the fact that it is both of its own time, and yet still timeless. Movies today aren't made the way they were back during the studio era- I’m not saying one way is better or worse; they are just different. When you watch Singing in the Rain you are watching a part of history. Who can ever forget the timeless image of Gene Kelly dancing with that black umbrella, or Donald O'Connor running up the walls at the end of “Make ‘em Laugh?” These iconic scenes remain timeless and just as impressive today, because no else could ever replicate them. All the performances in Singing in the Rain were such unique and individualized performances which perfectly displayed the actors' talents. The film is truly one of a kind.

 Lisa Helene.

Classic poster for a classic film. Via.