Singin' in the Rain (1952)

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 | Singing | Secret

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 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	...	Call Boy (uncredited)
Betty Allen	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Sue Allen	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Marie Ardell	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Bette Arlen	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Jimmy Bates	...	Boy (uncredited)
Marcella Becker	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Wardrobe Woman (uncredited)
David Blair	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Madge Blake	...	Dora Bailey (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Gwen Carter	...	Girl Talking with Cosmo at Party (uncredited)
Bill Chatham	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Lyle Clark	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Mae Clarke	...	Hairdresser (uncredited)
Harry Cody	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Chick Collins	...	Fencer (uncredited)
Pat Conway	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Jeanne Coyne	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Ruby C. Currie	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Fred Datig Jr.	...	Movie Usher (uncredited)
Bert Davidson	...	Sound Engineer (uncredited)
Robert Dayo	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Patricia Denise	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Kay Deslys	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Gloria DeWerd	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
John Dodsworth	...	Baron de la Ma de la Toulon (uncredited)
King Donovan	...	Rod (uncredited)
Michael Dugan	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Phil Dunham	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Helen Eby-Rock	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Marietta Elliott	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Richard Emory	...	Phil - Villain in Barroom Brawl (uncredited)
Betty Erbes	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Charles Evans	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Tommy Farrell	...	Sid Phillips (uncredited)
Don Fields	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Ernie Flatt	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Robert Fortier	...	Gangster in Broadway Melody Ballet (uncredited)
Dan Foster	...	Assistant Director (uncredited)
Robert Foulk	...	Matt - Policeman (uncredited)
Kathleen Freeman	...	Phoebe Dinsmore (uncredited)
Lance Fuller	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Jeanne Gail	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Glen Gallagher	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Jon Gardner	...	Kid (uncredited)
Diane Garrett	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Shirley Glickman	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Inez Gorman	...	Mrs. Simpson (uncredited)
A. Cameron Grant	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Beatrice Gray	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Marion Gray	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
William Hamel	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Betty Hannon	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Timmy Hawkins	...	Boy (uncredited)
Dean Henson	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Jean Heremans	...	Fencer (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	J. Cumberland Spendrill III (uncredited)
Joyce Horne	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Don Hulbert	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Frank Hyers	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Patricia Jackson	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Ivor James	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Morgan Jones	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
David Kasday	...	Kid (uncredited)
Jan Kayne	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Jimmy Kelly	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Police Escort at Premiere (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Judy Landon	...	Olga Mara (uncredited)
Joi Lansing	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Janet Lavis	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Virginia Lee	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
William F. Leicester	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Peggy Leon	...	Audience Member (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	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Leon Lontoc	...	Filipino Butler (uncredited)
Shirley Lopez	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Joan Maloney	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Paul Maxey	...	Dancing Fat Man at Party (uncredited)
Dorothy McCarty	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Ann McCrea	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Johnny McGovern	...	Boy (uncredited)
Joseph Mell	...	Projectionist (uncredited)
Sheila Meyers	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Carl Milletaire	...	Villain (uncredited)
Gloria Moore	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Marilyn Moore	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Forbes Murray	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Peggy Murray	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Anne Neyland	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Ruth Packard	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Dorothy Patrick	...	Usherette (uncredited)
Allen Pinson	...	Fencer (uncredited)
'Snub' Pollard	...	Old Man Getting Umbrella in "Singin' in the Rain" Number (uncredited)
Angi O. Poulos	...	Fruit Peddler (uncredited)
Charles Regan	...	Saloon Keeper (uncredited)
Shirley Jean Rickert	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Joanne Rio	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Joel Robinson	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Joette Robinson	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Tony Rocke	...	Man in Forecourt (uncredited)
Dennis Ross	...	Cosmo as a Boy (uncredited)
Paul Salata	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Audrey Saunders	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Russell Saunders	...	Fencer (uncredited)
William Schallert	...	Messenger on Screen (uncredited)
Betty Scott	...	Chorus Girl (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	...	Singer in 'Beautiful Girl' Segment (uncredited)
Dee Turnell	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Tommy Walker	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Audrey Washburn	...	Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Bobby Watson	...	Diction Coach (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Rudy Vallee Impersonator (uncredited)
Adam York	...	Publicity Man (uncredited)
Norma Zimmer	...	Chorus Girl (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)

Original Music by
Lennie Hayton		(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 creator
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
Matty Azzarone	....	construction (uncredited)
Tommy Crawford	....	props (uncredited)
Tom Ordoqui	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording supervisor
Bill 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)
Milford 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
Joan Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
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 arrangements
Nacio Herb Brown	....	songs: music by
Stanley Donen	....	musical numbers staged and directed by
Arthur Freed	....	songs: lyrics by
Lennie Hayton	....	musical director
Wally Heglin	....	orchestrator
Gene Kelly	....	musical numbers staged and directed by
Skip Martin	....	orchestrator
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Peter P. Decek	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Johnny Green	....	musical director (uncredited)
M.J. McLaughlin	....	music mixer (uncredited)
Uan Rasey	....	musician: trumpet soloist (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)
Howard Strickling	....	publicity director (uncredited)
Gwen Verdon	....	assistant choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Loew's (produced by) (as Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• RKO-Pathe Studios Inc.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (as Metro Goldwyn Mayer)
• Turner Entertainment (1986-present) (worldwide) (all media)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1952) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (1953) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1953) (France) (theatrical) (35 and 16 mm)
• Lii-Filmi (1964) (Finland) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1964) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Les Films du Paradoxe (1995) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Sandrews (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Encore Entertainment (????) (USA) (theatrical) (trailer distributor)
• Urania Film (1988) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2010) (Argentina) (DVD) (as part of the pack 'Triple Clásicos del Cine'.)
• Argentina Video Home (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (as part of the pack 'Classic American Musicals'.)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Emerald (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (as part of the pack "Cantando bajo la lluvia / Siete novias para siete hermanos")
• International DVD Group (2008) (Argentina) (DVD) (Colección Joyas del Cine)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1974) (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2003) (Finland) (DVD) (2-disc edition)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (????) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• Vídeo Arte (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1990s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (1980) (2007) (2010) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design (uncredited)

Also Known As:

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:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Finland:S | Netherlands:AL (original rating) (1952) | Portugal:M/6 (Qualidade) | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:G (new rating) (1975) | West Germany:6 (nf) | Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:Approved (Certificate No. 15511) (original rating) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Japan:G (2009) | France:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

The jalopy driven by Debbie Reynolds was the same one driven by Mickey Rooney in the Andy Hardy pictures.

Goofs:

Continuity: The scene where Gene Kelly is shown performing in an action sequence from the silent film "The Dueling Cavalier" actually uses footage from his earlier film The Three Musketeers (1948). At one point, Lana Turner, who played Lady de Winter in that film, is briefly seen coming through a door to embrace Kelly before being immediately replaced by new footage of Jean Hagen hugging Kelly.

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:

Featured in I Love Your Work (2003)

Soundtrack:

All I Do Is Dream of You

The dancingest, funniest musical of Hollywood's golden age.

Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen have produced the best musical written directly for the screen. They have used the period in film history during the transition to sound movies and embroidered it with the wonderful songbook of Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown. The icing on the cake, of course is the choreography of Kelly and Donen. From the first moment, the movie takes flight as Kelly relates the tale of his rise as a silent film star with his sidekick, the incomparable Donald O'Connor. Watch the flying feet of O'Connor and Kelly in the "Fit as a Fiddle" number. It doesn't get much better than this. Everyone is familiar with the classic "Singin' in the Rain" sequence. Donald O'Connor's hysterical "Make 'em Laugh" number is probably the funniest musical three minutes on film. Even the Broadway Ballet is a kaleidoscope of color and movement, with a minimum of the highbrow balletic choreography found in the later "An American in Paris."

What makes "Singin'" such an entertaining classic is its superb integration of comedy and music. Jean Hagen gives the performance of her life as the vocally challenged silent film star, Lena Lamont. Every scene she's in is a comic gem. Her "fingernails on a blackboard" voice and massacre of the English language make her a figure of ridicule. However, in the end when she finally gets her comeuppance, one can't help feeling a little sorry for her.

This delightful film has been given its due on video. On VHS it can be purchased with the complete remastered soundtrack on CD. The laserdisc versions include one with commentary by film historian Ronald Haver (Criterion) and the film-only version from MGM/UA Home Video with a restored Dolby Digital stereo soundtrack., Last,but not least,is a masterful rendering on DVD with, unfortunately, no supplementary material to speak of.

This is truly a film for all time that can be watched just for its entertainment value and studied as probably the apex of the Hollywood musical in its Golden Age.