Oldies Movie Review - Singin' in the Rain

Director: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
Genre: Musical/ Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 1952
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse, Millard Mitchell, Douglas Fowley, Rita Moreno

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

Review: Fans of musicals will feel like a kid in a candy store while watching “Singin’ in the Rain”. The many songs and dance numbers are unforgettable with all the romance, sensuality, comedy, enthusiasm and craftsmanship.
You also get to see a peace of movie history, when you see the transition from the silent film to the “talkie”, a movie where there is actual talking. We see how hard it was and how at first people were against it. The movie world of the 1920s is shown to us in a very entertaining way. In one of the most hilarious scenes you can see how actress Lina Lamont struggles with the microphone.
The comedy is a strong point. Besides the smart and ironic screenplay, the performances are also good. Jean Hagen is hilarious as the simple, materialistic and bitchy Lina, but also Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Selden is great. Gene Kelly is the focal point and I love him in his role as Don Lockwood. My favorite is Donald O’Connor as Don’s sidekick Cosmo. They work great together and his musical number “Make ‘em Laugh” is one of my favorite moments of the film.
The romantic storyline is not big, but I think it’s better that way. The songs are all fantastic, with Gene Kelly performing “Singin’ in the Rain” as the absolute highlight. This scene always puts a smile on my face.
For the musical fan an absolute must-see. For me, the ultimate movie that just makes me happy every time I watch it.

Rating: 5/ 5