Singin' in the Rain
1952
*****
Director: Gene Kelly, Stanley Donen
Cast: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, Rita Moreno, Dawn Addams, Madge Blake
As Hollywood transitions to talking pictures in the late 1920s, silent star Don Lockwood struggles to adapt alongside his jealous and squeaky-voiced co-star Lina Lamont. Things are complicated by Don falling in love with an aspiring actress, Kathy Selden. This iconic musical, directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, delivers 100 minutes of pure joy. The film blends physical and verbal comedy with unforgettable song-and-dance numbers, all told at a relentless pace and in vivacious Technicolor. Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds give amazingly energetic performances, while Jean Hagen provides a terrific comedic counterbalance. The story was built around songs previously written by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
