Singin' in the Rain (1952)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Directors:

Stanley Donen
Gene Kelly

Writers:

Adolph Green (story) and
Betty Comden (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 April 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Singin' Swingin' Glorious Feelin' Technicolor Musical

Plot:

A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Actress | Friend | Secret | Fan

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Gene Kelly	...	Don Lockwood
Donald O'Connor	...	Cosmo Brown
Debbie Reynolds	...	Kathy Selden
Jean Hagen	...	Lina Lamont
Millard Mitchell	...	R.F. Simpson
Cyd Charisse	...	Dancer
Douglas Fowley	...	Roscoe Dexter
Rita Moreno	...	Zelda Zanders
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dawn Addams	...	Teresa - a lady-in-waiting (uncredited)
John Albright	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Betty Allen	...	Girl Friend in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Sue Allen	...	Girl Friend in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Marie Ardell	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Bette Arlen	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jimmy Bates	...	Boy (uncredited)
Marcella Becker	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)
David Blair	...	Boy (uncredited)
Madge Blake	...	Dora Bailey (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gwen Carter	...	Girl Talking with Cosmo at Party (uncredited)
Bill Chatham	...	Quartet Dancer and Singer (uncredited)
Mae Clarke	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Lyle Clark	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Harry Cody	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Chick Collins	...	Fencer (uncredited)
Pat Conway	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Jeanne Coyne	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" and "All I Do Is Dream of You" Numbers (uncredited)
Fred Datig Jr.	...	Movie Usher (uncredited)
Bert Davidson	...	Sound Engineer (uncredited)
Robert Dayo	...	Quartet Dancer and Singer (uncredited)
Patricia Denise	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" and "All I Do Is Dream of You" Numbers (uncredited)
Kay Deslys	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Gloria DeWerd	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
John Dodsworth	...	Baron de la Ma de la Toulon (uncredited)
King Donovan	...	Rod (uncredited)
Michael Dugan	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Phil Dunham	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Marietta Elliott	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Richard Emory	...	Phil - Villain in Barroom Brawl (uncredited)
Betty Erbes	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Charles Evans	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Tommy Farrell	...	Sid Phillips (uncredited)
Don Fields	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt	...	Quartet Dancer and Singer (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	(uncredited)
Robert Fortier	...	Gangster extra in Dream sequence 'Gotta Dance' (uncredited)
Dan Foster	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Robert Foulk	...	Matt - Policeman (uncredited)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Phoebe Dinsmore (uncredited)
Lance Fuller	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jeanne Gail	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Glen Gallagher	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jon Gardner	...	Kid (uncredited)
Diane Garrett	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Shirley Glickman	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Inez Gorman	...	Mrs. Simpson (uncredited)
A. Cameron Grant	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Beatrice Gray	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Marion Gray	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
William Hamel	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Betty Hannon	...	Dancer in "All I Do Is Dream of You" Number (uncredited)
Timmy Hawkins	...	Boy (uncredited)
Dean Henson	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Jean Heremans	...	Fencer (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	J. Cumberland Spendrill III (uncredited)
Joyce Horne	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Don Hulbert	...	Quartet Dancer and Singer (uncredited)
Frank Hyers	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Pat Jackson	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" and "All I Do Is Dream of You" Numbers (uncredited)
Ivor James	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Morgan Jones	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
David Kasday	...	Kid (uncredited)
Jan Kayne	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Jimmy Kelly	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Police Escort at Premiere (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Man in Audience of 'Dancing Cavalier' (uncredited)
Judy Landon	...	Olga Mara (uncredited)
Joi Lansing	...	Beautiful Blonde (uncredited)
Janet Lavis	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" and "All I Do Is Dream of You" Numbers (uncredited)
Virginia Lee	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
William F. Leicester	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Peggy Leon	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Diki Lerner	...	Male Tango Dancer (uncredited)
Bill Lewin	...	Bert - Cowboy Knocked Out in Barroom Brawl (uncredited)
Sylvia Lewis	...	Female Tango Dancer (uncredited)
John Logan	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Leon Lontoc	...	Filipino Butler (uncredited)
Shirley Lopez	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Joan Maloney	...	(uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Dancing Fat Man at Party (uncredited)
Dorothy McCarty	...	Girl Friend in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Ann McCrea	...	Girl at Party (uncredited)
Johnny McGovern	...	Boy (uncredited)
Joseph Mell	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Sheila Meyers	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Carl Milletaire	...	Villain (uncredited)
Gloria Moore	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Marilyn Moore	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Peggy Murray	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number / Fainting Girl (uncredited)
Anne Neyland	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Ruth Packard	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Dorothy Patrick	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Allen Pinson	...	Fencer (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Old Man Getting Umbrella in "Singin' in the Rain" Number (uncredited)
Angi O. Poulis	...	Fruit Peddler (uncredited)
Charles Regan	...	Saloon Keeper (uncredited)
Shirley Jean Rickert	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joanne Rio	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Joel Robinson	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Joette Robinson	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Tony Rocke	...	Man in Forecourt (uncredited)
Dennis Ross	...	Cosmo as a Boy (uncredited)
Paul Salata	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Audrey Saunders	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	...	Fencer (uncredited)
William Schallert	...	Messenger on Screen (uncredited)
Betty Scott	...	Dancer in 'Beautiful Girl' Number (uncredited)
David Sharpe	...	Fencer (uncredited)
Elaine Stewart	...	Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Ben Strobach	...	Leading Man (uncredited)
Brick Sullivan	...	Policeman in "Singin' in the Rain" Number (uncredited)
Allen Sutherland	...	Don as a Boy (uncredited)
Julius Tannen	...	Man in Talking Pictures Demonstration (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook	...	Sound Technician (uncredited)
Jimmy Thompson	...	Male Lead in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)
Dee Turnell	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Tommy Walker	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Audrey Washburn	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Bobby Watson	...	Diction Coach (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Rudy Vallee Impersonator (uncredited)
Adam York	...	Publicity Man (uncredited)
Norma Zimmer	...	Dancer in "Beautiful Girl" Number (uncredited)

Directed by
Stanley Donen
Gene Kelly

Writing credits
Adolph Green		(story) and
Betty Comden		(story)
Adolph Green		(screenplay) and
Betty Comden		(screenplay)

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer
Roger Edens	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harold Rosson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Adrienne Fazan

Art Direction by
Randall Duell
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Jacques Mapes		(as Jacque Mapes)
Edwin B. Willis
Harry McAfee		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles designer
William Tuttle	....	makeup designer
Martha Acker	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Mary Bashe	....	body makeup artist (uncredited)
Ben Lane	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Helene Parsons	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Dorothy Ponedel	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)
John True	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Charles J. Hunt	....	production manager (uncredited)
William C. Strohm	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Greenwald	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Marvin Stuart	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Tommy Crawford	....	props (uncredited)
Tom Ordoqui	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
William Edmondson	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Norwood A. Fenton	....	sound (uncredited)
James F. Gaither Jr.	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Ralph A. Pender	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Robert Shirley	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
William Steinkamp	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Michael Steinore	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe	....	special effects
Irving G. Ries	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mark Davis	....	cinematographer: matte painting (uncredited)

Stunts
Chick Collins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jean Heremans	....	stunts (uncredited)
Allen Pinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	....	stunt double: Gene Kelly (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Alton	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Richard Borland	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Eric Carpenter	....	still photographer (uncredited)
M.D. Cline	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Hank Forester	....	grip (uncredited)
Ed Hubbell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
J. James	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Tom Long	....	grip (uncredited)
Leo Monlon	....	key grip (uncredited)
John M. Nickolaus Jr.	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Frank V. Phillips	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Wes Shanks	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vicki Nichols	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Dave Saltuper	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Peter Ballbusch	....	montage (uncredited)
Ed Hartzke	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
William LeVanway	....	supervising editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Alexander	....	vocal arranger
Nacio Herb Brown	....	composer: songs
Stanley Donen	....	director: musical numbers
Stanley Donen	....	stager: musical numbers
Arthur Freed	....	lyricist
Lennie Hayton	....	musical director
Wally Heglin	....	orchestrator
Gene Kelly	....	director: musical numbers
Gene Kelly	....	stager: musical numbers
Skip Martin	....	orchestrator
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Peter P. Decek	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Johnny Green	....	musical director (uncredited)
M.J. McLaughlin	....	music mixer (uncredited)
William Saracino	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Lela Simone	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
James Gooch	....	technicolor color consultant
Henri Jaffa	....	technicolor color consultant
Dorothy Aldrin	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Jack Aldworth	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Helen Auer	....	secretary: Mr. Freed (uncredited)
Rene Barsam	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jeanne Coyne	....	assistant dance director (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt	....	tap dance instructor (uncredited)
Phil Garris	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Carol Haney	....	assistant dance director (uncredited)
Belva Lannan	....	secretary: Mr. Edens (uncredited)
Alma Maison	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Bill Ryan	....	assistant: Mr. Freed (uncredited)
Lela Simone	....	assistant: Mr. Freed (uncredited)
Gwen Verdon	....	assistant choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Loew's

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (UK) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Herald Film Company (Japan)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1963) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (certificate #15511) (original rating) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Iceland:L | Germany:12 | South Korea:All | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G (new rating) (1975) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Grauman's Chinese Theater - 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Filming of the Cyd Charisse dance number had to be stopped for several hours after it was discovered that her pubic hair was visible through her costume. When the problem was finally fixed, the film's costume designer Walter Plunkett said, "It's OK, guys, we've finally got Cyd's crotch licked."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: During the "Royal Rascal," when Don pushes the man over the railing on the stairway, you can clearly see the hands of a crew member reach out to catch him

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dora Bailey: [broadcasting on radio] This is Dora Bailey, ladies and gentlemen, talking to you from the front of the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. What a night, ladies and gentlemen, what a night! Every star in Hollywood's heaven is here to make Monumental Pictures' premiere of "The Royal Rascal" the outstanding event of 1927! Everyone is breathlessly awaiting the arrival of Lina Lamont and Don Lockwood!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Arrebato (1980)

Soundtrack:

Would You

The talkies

The transition from the silent film era to the newly arrived technique of the 'talkies' proved to be the ruin for many well established stars that were great on the screen, but who had no professional training in the theater, or otherwise, and had horrible speaking voices. Thus, a star of the magnitude of Lina Lamont, suffers a hard blow to her career and ego.

That's the basis of one of the best movies about old Hollywood of all times: "Singin' in the Rain". The film is one of the classics it is because of the marvelous direction of Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, two men who knew a lot about musicals. The screen play is by one of the best people in the business, Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

MGM was the studio that employed all the stars one sees in the film, and what a cast they put together: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse in a dancing part, Millard Mitchell and Rita Moreno. As if those names weren't big enough, there is the fantastic musical numbers that even, viewing them today, have kept their freshness because of the care in which this film was crafted.

"Singin' in the Rain" is one of the best musicals of all times. It's right up there with the best of them thanks to the vision of Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen and it will live forever as more people discover this wonderful example of entertainment.