Health & Fitness
60th Anniversary of Singin' in the Rain
Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the classic American film musical Singin the Rain! Watch the film, learn about the stars, and try tap dancing on your own!
It’s one of the great iconic scenes, Gene Kelly balancing on the side of a lamp post, umbrella in hand, oblivious to the downpour singing about how he is so happy in love. Singin’ in the Rain, the classic movie musical has just celebrated its 60th Anniversary. So let’s celebrate with a look at the film.
The movie is about what happened to silent film stars when the talkies began. Kelly plays Don Lockwood, silent film star. His best friend Cosmo Brown is played by Donald O’ Connor. O’ Connor provides even more amazing dancing skills as well as some needed comic relief. His “Make ‘Em Laugh” number is almost as iconic as Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain.”
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Jean Hagen is Lina Lamont, Lockwood’s leading lady. They made great silent films together. Dialog coaches get Lockwood up to speed for the talkies, but Lina has a speaking voice that sounds like an adenoidal peacock. Lockwood, on the run from overzealous fans meets Kathy Selden (played by nineteen year old Debbie Reynolds), a chorus girl who is trying to make it big. Don and Kathy are reunited and begin to fall in love. Lina and Don’s next film is to be a talkie and no coaching can fix Lina’s voice. Kathy is selected to dub for Lina. Lina is furious when she finds out that Kathy will get screen credit and that Kathy and Don are romantically involved. She tries to sabotage things. In the great tradition of movie musicals all turns out right in the end.
Singin’ in the Rain: The Making of an American Masterpiece offers a detailed behind the scenes look at the film. Want to learn how Donald O’Connor created his famous “Make Em Laugh” sequence? This book explains how it was done. The only downside to the book is that doesn’t have too many pictures, but nothing beats watching the film!
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Written with the help of Lois McClelland, Kelly’s personal secretary of over forty years Gene Kelly: A Life of Dance and Dreams follows him on his road to success. For more biographies of Kelly check out:
Gene Kelly: A Celebration by Sheridan Morley and Ruth Leon
Gene Kelly might not have been the easiest person to work with, but his early life might explain his strict work ethic. Kelly grew up in Pittsburgh, one of five children in a poor family. He and his siblings were enrolled in dance classes and performed frequently working through the Depression. His big break would come in 1940 with the stage musical Pal Joey where Kelly played the title role.
While everything looks wonderful on screen things were not so wonderful on the set. Gene Kelly had a fever when he filmed his Singin’ in the Rain sequence. Debbie Reynolds was nineteen during filming and had minimal dance training and Gene Kelly gave her a hard time about her lack of experience. Fred Astaire became her dance coach. Donald O’Connor admitted to not enjoying working with Kelly. Kelly made Reynolds dance so hard in the “Good Morning” number her feet bled.
While reading about Gene Kelly is wonderful, it is by watching him in action that audiences can truly appreciate his talents. Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer combines footage of him in action along with interviews given by those who knew him, Kelly himself speaks about his career.
Watch Gene Kelly in action in other musicals:
Want to try dancing like Gene Kelly or Donald O’ Connor? Check out Tap Dance Made Easy Volume 1 Get dancing!
For those who have never seen Singing in the Rain you are in for a marvelous treat! If you need assistance in locating any of these items please stop by the Reference Desk and the librarian will be happy to help you find what you need.
