Singing in the Rain

Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen and Millard Mitchell.

Director: Stanley Dohen and Gene Kelly

Release Date: 1952

Genre: Comedy/Musical

Running Time: 1hr 43 minutes

Rating: U

Format: Amazon Prime UK

Synopsis:

A silent film production makes it's first difficult transition to sound.

Set in Hollywood 1927, Monumental Pictures biggest stars, dazzling on-screen couple Lina Lamont and Don Lockwood, or if you are to believe the gossip columns and trade papers, they are an off-screen couple too. In reality, Don loathes her, while Lina despite thinking Don is beneath her, believes everything she sees on screen in order to boost her own stardom. In 1927, Monumental Pictures releases it's first talking picture film "The Jazz Singer", Don and Lina naturally want to jump on the band wagon, releasing their very own talking picture film.

Beautifully directed by Stanley Dohen and Gene Kelly. It's astonishing how much movies have changed throughout the years, sound films first started off with synchronized dialogue, which were more commonly known as talking pictures, by the 1930's, they'd become a worldwide phenomenon. The storyline explains the change in history, beautifully through the art of dance. Gene Kelly stars as Don Lockwood a stuntman turned actor, a charming man who is loved by thousands around the world, a heartthrob. His relationship with Lina Lamont however is far from rocky, loathing even being in the same presence as her, pretending to be in love with her just to please his adoring fans.

Lina Lamont is played terrifically by Jean Hagen. A squeaky voiced woman, who demands the attention of film studio's all over Hollywood. Lina however, isn't aware that she can't act, can't sing and can't dance, dancer Kathy Seldon (Reynolds) ends up filling in for, in her first talking production, showing Lamont as a fraud after she desperately tries to steal Kathy's stardom. Debbie Reynolds steal the show with her stunning singing voice and charming on screen persona. Reynolds, Hagen, O'Connor and Kelly all bring the story to life with their excellent performances.

Director of Photography Harold Rosson has worked well with directors Stanley Dohen and Gene Kelly in creating a terrific atmosphere on screen. The film really has that wonderful 1920's feel to it. The dance sequences are beautifully choreographed, Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor steal the show time and time again, captivating their audiences as they dance on screen. The dance sequences are highly entertaining and spectacularly shot. Fun and entertaining, the superb soundtrack adds to the magic of the film. Although "Singing in the Rain" is the name of the movie, the theme is slightly different, however Debbie Reynolds delivers a gorgeous performance of the song in the film, when she finally becomes the star she deserves to be.

5/5 stars