Singin’ in the Rain
Directed by Gene Kelly, this musical
comedy movie released in 1952, starred Debbie Reynolds (as Kathy), Kelly (as
Don Lockwood), Jean Hagen (as Lina Lamont) and Donald O’Connor (as Cosmo). This
movie shows the transition of Silent movies into talking movies. Debbie was not
a dancer when she filmed this movie and Kelly was harsh to her about her
performance. Fred Astaire helped her to learn the dance moves. Later
she is quoted saying that her feet were bleeding after practising for the dance
song, “Good Morning” with Kelly and O’Connor
and that the movie Singin’ in the Rain
and childbirth were the two hardest things in her life!!
I wonder if Donald really got hurt
while doing the song, “Make em laugh”
and his wall jumps seemed so acrobatic. I encourage my kids not to attempt
these stunts even under supervision! Check out YouTube link.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SND3v0i9uhE
Jean is bang on her role as Lina
Lamont a dim-wit actress, her nasal twang when she says, “I can’t stand him”,
and “Do you think I am dumb or something”, had me cracking up throughout the
movie. When the sound clip slips and the voice over is changed, the “No No No
and Yes Yes Yes”, scene is hilarious. My younger brother and I loved watching this
movie and we kept imitating it over and over again as kids.
Check out the YouTube links.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMzV96LV6Cc
The song Singin in the Rain was choreographed by Gene Kelly himself and this
dance sequence has been used and reused by so many dancer composers all over
the world. The song “Tip tip tip baarish suru hogayi”, from movie Afsana Pyar ka (Aamir Khan Starrer) just
is a rip off from the song Singin’ in the
Rain.
View Gene splashing puddles in this link.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ZYhVpdXbQ
But nothing can ever come close to
Gene splashing in the puddles and absolutely enjoying getting drenched in the
rain which actually feels like he is drenched so much in Love. Even his move of
swinging around the Lamp post as has copied by many dance composers in
Bollywood movies.
The cinematographer, Harold Rosson
did an awesome job on this song sequence that has such a beautiful flow to it
like water cascading down a fall. It is a must watch for people who love the
Rain. Check out YouTube Link.
Bollywood actor and Director, Raj
Kapoor, also used a rain song sequence in his movie, “Shree 420” (1955) where he romances actress Nargis in the famous
song,” Pyaar hua Ikarar hua”, a beautiful
redition by Lata Mangeshkar and music
composed by Shankar-Jaikishen. Check
out YouTube Link.
To me personally, all these rain
drenched songs signify the warm feeling that gushes over you when you first
fall in love!
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