Singin' in the Rain (1952) — Movie Discussion

Hollywood’s troubled transition from silent to talking pictures at the end of the 1920s provided the inspiration for perhaps the greatest of movie musicals. A swashbuckling matinee idol (Gene Kelly) falls in love with a bright-eyed newcomer (Debbie Reynolds) while trying to duck his jealous, narcissistic onscreen romantic partner (Jean Hagen) — whose parrot-squawk of a voice makes her distinctly unsuited for the new talking pictures. (Sight and Sound)

"With so many films dedicated to the agonies of filmmaking, Singin’ overflows with the pleasure of movie creation, stitching together references to Hollywood history with more alacrity than Tarantino." (Empire)

"Singin' In The Rain inventively satirizes the illusions of the filmmaking process while celebrating their life-affirming joy. Half parody, half homage, the movie became the apex of the splashy MGM musical, while showcasing the collaborative possibilities of the studio system." (A.V. Club)

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Let's discuss a classic, the musical Singin' in the Rain (1952) directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, recently voted the 10th greatest movie of all time in Sight and Sound's prestigious international survey of film critics and experts. The movie also ranked the 52nd greatest of all time in the related poll of film directors.

Please watch the movie in advance.

You can stream it here (check the settings in the player to adjust video quality) or rent it on various platforms online (for best quality.)

A trailer.

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