Singin' in the Rain (1952)

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

Directors:

Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly

Writers:

Betty Comden (story by), Adolph Green (story by)

Stars:

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds

Top Rated Movies #100 | Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

1927 Hollywood. Monumental Pictures' biggest stars, glamorous on-screen couple Lina Lamont and Don Lockwood, are also an off-screen couple if the trade papers and gossip columns are to be believed. Both perpetuate the public perception if only to please their adoring fans and bring people into the movie theaters. In reality, Don barely tolerates her, while Lina, despite thinking Don beneath her, simplemindedly believes what she sees on screen in order to bolster her own stardom and sense of self-importance. R.F. Simpson, Monumental's head, dismisses what he thinks is a flash in the pan: talking pictures. It isn't until The Jazz Singer (1927) becomes a bona fide hit which results in all the movie theaters installing sound equipment that R.F. knows Monumental, most specifically in the form of Don and Lina, have to jump on the talking picture bandwagon, despite no one at the studio knowing anything about the technology. Musician Cosmo Brown, Don's best friend, gets hired as Monumental's ...

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Plot Keywords:

movie studio | 1920s | film within a film | femme fatale | hollywood california | 

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Taglines:

Singin' Swingin' Glorious Feelin' Technicolor Musical

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Re-Issue from 1952

Did You Know?

Trivia

Debbie Reynolds remarked many years later that making this movie and surviving childbirth were the two hardest things she'd ever had to do. The filming experience was particularly unpleasant due to her harsh treatment by perfectionist Gene Kelly. Decades later, Kelly expressed remorse about his behavior: "I wasn't nice to Debbie. It's a wonder she still speaks to me."

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Goofs

When Don runs into a cabin as a stuntman, there is an obvious splice in the film just before the cabin blows up.

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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!

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Connections

Referenced in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Orientation: Part 2 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Fit as a Fiddle
(1932)
Music by Al Hoffman (uncredited) and Al Goodhart (uncredited)
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Originally from the 1932 stage revue "George White's Music Hall Varieties"
Sung by Gene Kelly (uncredited) and Donald O'Connor (uncredited)

User Reviews

Heart Singin' in a Rain of Joyful Tears...

It's the magic that seldom appears, whose longevity is perpetual, the pleasure of enjoying the perfections that people, music and great storytelling can sometimes offer, with the backdrop a little piece of cinema history itself. All without foul language, extravagant pyrotechnics, mass brawls and bullets ricocheting all over the place, just immensely talented people doing what they do best - keeping you entertained and allowing you to escape for a while and live with the dreams of others. Whether musicals are you thing or not, there can be no doubt that you witness greatness as you welcome the rain and it makes your heart sing.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Singin' in the Rain

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,540,800 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,643, 10 November 2002

Gross USA:

$1,826,108

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,865,056

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1