SINGIN' IN THE RAIN A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2002 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ****
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, a wonderfully sweet and happy film that is perhaps the best example of Hollywood's golden age of musicals, is being released on an eye-popping new DVD that literally explodes with color. For its fiftieth anniversary, they are releasing a double-disc special edition with Warner Brothers' newly developed "Ultra-Resolution" process, which is digitally remastered from the three-strip Technicolor film elements. The result is unlike any DVD from a Technicolor master that you've ever seen. If you want to see a contrast, just view the film's trailer which was not created with the new process. The contrast is like the difference between Dolby Digital and mono sound.
The cornucopia of marvelous song and dance numbers from the movie are all sheer delight. The two male stars of the picture, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor, were joined by an 18-year-old in her first leading role, Debbie Reynolds, who managed to do quite a respectable job hoofing along with the greatest. When she was signed up to do the picture, she was a gymnast, not a dancer. The studio put her through a three month crash course in dance, which performed miracles. (The great Cyd Charisse also appears in one extended sequence dancing with Kelly.)
The script was designed around the songs, which had been chosen first. Among the many tidbits you can learn on the second disc is that Kelly's most famous solo, "Singin' In The Rain," was not in original script. The number was intended to be for a trio.
The plot, as you probably know, concerns a group of actors who are having trouble making the transition to talkies when their new film, DUELING CAVALIERS, is switched by the studio from a silent film to a talkie. The running joke is that Don Lockwood's (Kelly) silent film co-star, Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), has a squeaky, harsh voice that is neither romantic nor dramatic but unintentionally funny. She is completely unsuited for talkies. The solution is voice dubbing by Kathy Selden (Reynolds).
The plot is fairly unimportant. You watch the movie to see the great song and dance numbers. God, could they ever dance! With O'Connor's comedic dancing ability and Kelly's great dancing skills and his million-dollar smile that could light up Times Square, they were clearly the best. What a joy to watch them in action again!
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN runs 1:43. The film is rated G and would be a great choice for all ages.
The two disc set has a gaggle of goodies. My favorite is a documentary about the movie, hosted by Debbie Reynolds. It is full of fascinating insights into the production.
The DVD is available now.
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