Film critic of singing in the rain

I brought with me my then 10yearold daughter and her best friend, and my eightyearold son. The singin in the rain scene was wonderful, i really liked the hollywood satire and the depiction of the troubled transition from silent cinema. Dec 29, 2016 on march 27, 1952, mgm hosted the premiere for singin in the rain at radio city music hall in new york. The set and scenery was beautiful, the story was a. Clever, incisive, and funny, singin in the rain is a masterpiece of the classical. It address the conflict between television and film industry. The film, which takes place during hollywoods transition out of the silent era, is best known for its musical numbers. Scoms 110 reaction to filmsinging in the rain critics. Singin in the rain is to me the hollywood movie which has most nearly achieved perfection. If you want to see a light musical comedy, thats exactly what you will get. The voices in both the movie and the film being made during the movie were very important because they gave insight on the characters personality and role in the grand scheme of things. Singin in the rain 1952 codirected by gene kelly and stanley donen, tops the american film institutes list of the 25 greatest musicals.

Posts about singing in the rain written by noeltmanning. Leonard maltin, and many other prominent critics agree with that opinion. Also, another threat to the film industry was the greater highculture pretensions posed to films that were just for entertaining. British film critic philip french said the movie changed his life and called it a perfect cocktail of wit, elegance ebullience and grace, intoxication without a hangover, an innocent eden to be. A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound. While rita moreno doesnt have much to do in singin in the rain, she is one of the most famous musical actresses in stage and film history. Subscribe to the times video newsletter for free and get a handpicked sele. Film historian ron haver, who does the scenebyscene commentary on an alternate sound track of the laserdisc, points out that singin in the rain was not immediately hailed for its greatness. Singin in the rain is considered by many people to be among the best hollywood musicals of all time. Add to that a great energy that the cast brings to the script throughout the film and you got yourself one heck of a movie. Though singin in the rain is more integrated than bandwagon and other films about the theatre 42nd street, easter parade etc.

Donen got an honorary oscar in 1998, and stole the show by singing cheek to cheek while dancing with his statuette. May 31, 2014 kenneth turan at the cannes film festival this year. Sitting through the films 102 minutes is like ingesting a moodaltering drug. Singin in the rain, from 1952, starred donens codirector gene kelly. Sep 26, 20 singin in the rain explicitly deals with the hollywood filmmaking process throughout the film as the actors at the time in film had to transitions from the entertainment they were performing in hollywood which was often silent films with music, to talkies because of the release of the jazz singer, in 1927 there was a remake of the. It offers a lighthearted depiction of hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to talkies the film was only a modest hit when it was. Voice and sound in singin in the rain ufilm analysis blog. Sitting through the film s 102 minutes is like ingesting a moodaltering drug. Watching singin in the rain is an exuberant, magical experience a journey deep into the heart of feelgood territory.

And it makes you feel good about exceptions to the rule. Its the perfect antidote to the blues and the blahs, and a way to bolster, enhance, and extend a natural high. Roger ebert was the film critic of the chicago suntimes from 1967 until his death in 20. Stanley donen, director of singin in the rain and other classics of the golden age of hollywood, has died. It was enjoyable to watch, particularly because it was comedic in. Singin in the rain starts off at the 1927 premiere of the new monumental pictures film the royal rascal. Singin in the rain, starring gene kelly, ushers in. Singin in the rain, starring gene kelly, ushers in spring. For our music critic kitty empire, it was hearing kiss at the age of.

It was codirected by stanley donen, then only 28, and kelly, who supervised the choreography. One of the shining glories of the american musical. Critics corner class project scom 110 summer 2016 reaction to film. Singin in the rain is one of those films where everything just comes together and works. Don tells the crowd all about his cultured, utterly refined upbringing, while flashbacks reveal that hes lying his pants off. From a recently surfaced 1080p highdefinition digital transfer of singin in the rain 1952.

The film, starring gene kelly and debbie reynolds, was. Above all else, singin in the rain 1952 is a celebration. It did well at the box office, but won no academy awards and was on no critics yearend lists of best films. This exuberant satire of hollywood in the late 20s, at the time of the transition from silents to talkies, is probably the most enjoyable of all american movie. Singin in the rain is a metamusical it explores the transition of a movie studio from silent film to sound, all set to a musical script. Mar 03, 20 to see singin in the rain on the big screen was a revelation providing an understanding on a much deeper level of the complete brilliance of the film makers and performers involved. Though i did my best to be as honest as possible with this post, clearly it does not represent all of my true feelings about this film. Singin in the rain the current the criterion collection. Singin in the rain is a 1952 american musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by gene kelly and stanley donen, starring kelly, donald oconnor, and debbie reynolds.

In 1927 hollywood, a silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound. The mere mention of its title brings a smile to the face of every movie lover, regardless of age. Singin in the rain 1952 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The singin in the rain scene was wonderful, i really liked the hollywood satire and the depiction of the troubled such a joyous and entertaining film that might become a tad too cheesy and silly at times, but thats just part of its charm. On march 27, 1952, mgm hosted the premiere for singin in the rain at radio city music hall in new york. When observer film critic philip french first saw singin in the rain in 1952, he realised cinema was his lifelong passion. Singin in the rain the first obstruction the soul of the plot. Singin in the rain the first obstruction the soul of.

Within the classic hollywood musical, singin in the rain, there are many historical references associated with the birth of the talkies. This quintessential american filmmade in hollywoods golden age, showcasing the genius of gene kelly, and featuring what ebert calls the most joyous musical sequence ever filmedhas inspired love and admiration from fellow critics, film. Americas most popular film critic is hardly alone in singing the praises of singin in the rain. I agree with all this but think the film is one of the genre about showbiz generally and film specifically like the bandwagon. Feb 23, 2019 stanley donen, director of singin in the rain and other classics of the golden age of hollywood, has died. Kellys soakingwet singin in the rain dance number is the single most memorable dance number on film, peter wollen wrote in a. The film, starring gene kelly and debbie reynolds, was nominated for two oscars at the 25th.

The real meaning behind the creation of singin in the rain. Stanley donen, director who filmed gene kelly singing in the. A silent film production company and cast make a difficult. This quintessential american filmmade in hollywoods golden age, showcasing the genius of gene kelly, and featuring what ebert calls the most joyous musical sequence ever filmedhas inspired love and admiration from fellow critics, film scholars, and movie buffs worldwide for more than half a. Shes not the protagonist, he writes of singin in the rain, but the plot revolves around her.

Film essay singin in the rain by lorne graham, national affiliate program manager, nemc as a professional musician and film lover, i will offer recommendations to visitors to the website on musicbased films that are inspiring, joyous, artistic, and exhibit fine filmmaking. To see singin in the rain on the big screen was a revelation providing an understanding on a much deeper level of the complete brilliance of the film makers and performers involved. A puerto rican actress, dancer, and singer, she is known for her performance as anita in the film of west side story for which she won an academy award, the king and i, and the ritz. Singin in the rain is probably the most popular and beloved movie musical of all time. The psychical performance by oconnor in the make em laugh scene was incredible, and much of the. Clever, incisive, and funny, singin in the rain is a masterpiece of the classical hollywood musical. Stanley donen, director who filmed gene kelly singing in. It offers a comic depiction of hollywood, and its transition from silent films to talking films. Its central image, that of gene kelly joyfully dancing and hanging exuberantly from a lamppost during a downpour, has come to exemplify not only the best of the mgm musical but. It stars don lockwood and lina lamont, two of the brightest silent film stars in hollywood. Its joyful and a ridiculous amount of fun, boasting some of the most fantastically entertaining dance numbers in all of cinema. May 12, 2009 americas most popular film critic is hardly alone in singing the praises of singin in the rain. Singin in the rain 1952 is one of the mostloved and celebrated film musicals of all time from mgm, before a mass exodus to filmed adaptations of broadway plays emerged as a standard pattern. With gene kelly, donald oconnor, debbie reynolds, jean hagen.

Singin in the rain 1952 directed by stanley donen, gene. Singin in the rain critics picks the new york times. The psychical performance by oconnor in the make em laugh scene was incredible, and much of the comedy still works very well today and is quite witty. Jun 25, 20 i dont mean to say that singin in the rain is a failure for adhering to the conventions of its genre, but its a bit of a let down, based on its lofty position, to realize that thats exactly what the film does. Feb 23, 2019 stanley donen, a director of hollywood musicals who secured an enduring place in cinema history as the filmmaker who captured fred astaire dancing on a ceiling and gene kelly singing in the rain. Sep 27, 20 within the classic hollywood musical, singin in the rain, there are many historical references associated with the birth of the talkies. I found the music of silence to be a wonderful film and in fact saw it twice in one day on board the rotterdam cruise ship last month. The esteemed observer film critic, the late philip french, once said, of his favourite film. British film critic philip french said the movie changed his life and called it a perfect cocktail of wit, elegance ebullience and grace. From religious pageants, to operas, to musical prose presented on stage, to travelling folk ballad minstrels music and story have always been connected. Robert van deering timothy robinson eng 2300 september 26, 20 there are several reasons why the film, singin in the rain was created when it was. Times film critic says a friend once called his job the equivalent of being the anthracite critic for the scranton times. If singin in the rain represents the ultimate happiness to be found in a great work of art, then sunset blvd. The joyous film, codirected by stanley donen and acrobatic dancerstarchoreographer gene kelly, is a charming, upbeat, graceful and.

Stanley donen, a director of hollywood musicals who secured an enduring place in cinema history as the filmmaker who captured fred astaire dancing on. Scott gets a glorious feeling when he looks back on singin in the rain in critics picks this week. Me, a film lover since the age of six, hadnt seen singing in the rain until last night. I doubt if i could love anyone who didnt wish to see singin in the rain again and again and again. Those are key answers with the production of singin in the rain. The rain consisted of water plus milk so the rain would show up better on film but it caused kellys wool suit to shrink. The singin in the rain scene was wonderful, i really liked the hollywood satire and the depiction of. With snappy songs, witty dialogue, phenomenal dance numbers, and a great hollywood story, it probably deserves to be. The bfis rerelease gives both longtime fans and those who have never experienced it on the big screen the chance to sit back, relax and let. Spring came with a fresh and cheerful splatter to the music hall yesterday with the arrival of metros new musical, singin in the rain. For those who have seen the movie, the reason for this is not difficult to understand.

Singin in the rain, starring gene kelly, ushers in spring at the music hall. The three starsgene kelly, donald oconnor and 19yearold debbie reynoldsmust have rehearsed endlessly for their dance numbers, which involve alarming acrobatics, but in performance theyre giddy with joy. Kenneth turan at the cannes film festival this year. It offers a lighthearted depiction of hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to.