This sublime 1952 movie musical, in cinemas again, puts the artistry of gene kelly, debbie reynolds and co on full, joyful display. The film opens on the three stars of the film with their backs to the camera, holding umbrellas. Love and music in singin in the rain film music notes. Robert van deering timothy robinson eng 2300 september 26, 20 there are several reasons why the film, singin in the rain was created when it was. Film analysis of singing in the rain 26 words bartleby. Oct 18, 2019 singin in the rain emerged in the early 1950s, when the industry had achieved a mature distance from its silent origins, and its possible this film helped promote the idea that with. Our mission is to enhance the cultural environment of the omahacouncil bluffs metropolitan area through the presentation and discussion of film as an art form. May 04, 2019 thank you for watching the summary of singing in the rain. First of all, we have a lengthy flashback right out of the gate, as don tells dora bailey his life story. The film, starring gene kelly and debbie reynolds, was. Singin in the rain starts off at the 1927 premiere of the new monumental pictures film the royal rascal. Apr 05, 2020 singin in the rain is my favorite movie that is not apart of a series aka the lord of the rings. I am a sucker for anything with elaborate tap dancing numbers, and while gene kelly is no fred astaire, he holds his own in this film along with donald oconnor and debbie reynolds. Singin in the rain is considered by many people to be among the best hollywood musicals of all time.
Gene kellys singin in the rain is musical perfection the atlantic. Singing in the rain and a clockwork orange are both classical hollywood films. This study guide consists of approximately 20 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of singin in the rain. In other words, singin in the rain is all up in the movie businesss, well, businessso why not end the picture on a reference to the picture itself. This film has a generally joyful and uplifting mood throughout, somewhat of a norm for musicals. Singin in the rain emerged in the early 1950s, when the industry had achieved a mature distance from its silent origins, and its possible this film helped promote the idea that with. Apr 30, 2015 film analysis singin in the rain acting technique.
Exploring singin in the rains costume designs helen. Singin in the rain music analysis singin in the rain kellydonan, 1952 is known to be one of best musicals ever made and one of the funniest movies of its time. Mgm producer arthur freed spent the 20s as a lyricist, scoring talkies with nacio herb brown, and their song singin in the rain appeared in the hollywood revue of 1929. Silent films depended on facial expressions and overused mannerism to convey the feelings on to the audience but many actors werent ready or capable of t. The music reflects each inherent level of the scenes, and in this way the music has become an identifiable character. A couple of traits about this genre is that there are song and dance routines and the main cast does a lot of the singing. Although i cant remember what age i was when i first witnessed this classic moment in.
Singin in the rain has gradually grown in popularity and appeal. Because i, the one of recent people who are used to the talkies, was so much impressed, i cant imagine how. Singing in the rain analysis film studies essay uk essays. The film, singing in the rain, directed by stanely donen and gene kelly, uses many themes, camera angles, and overall simple techniques to engage its audience within the movie and yet still manage to symbolize plentiful acts. The 1952 film, singing in the rain was directed by gene kelly and stanley donen. In 1927, don lockwood and lina lamont are a famous onscreen romantic pair.
Gene kelley center in the broadway ballet extravaganza. Singin in the rain is a 1952 american musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by gene kelly and stanley donen, starring kelly, donald oconnor, and debbie reynolds. Dont let the fact that singin in the rain is a bright and shiny musical fool you. Singing in the rain is one of my favorite musical films. The only problem is linas voice, which mere words cannot describe.
The final image is when don and kathy are standing and kissing in front of the billboard with their film singin in the rain on it. Reflexivity in singin in the rain film analysis at the. It took some time, but i would really like to do it with other movies. Singing in the rain is an american comedy musical film starring gene kelly, debbie reynolds, donald oconnor and jean hagen, and direc. Dec 29, 2016 on march 27, 1952, mgm hosted the premiere for singin in the rain at radio city music hall in new york. On march 27, 1952, mgm hosted the premiere for singin in the rain at radio city music hall in new york. Since singing in the rain is a musical film, it explains classical musical well. The voices in both the movie and the film being made during the movie were very important because they gave insight on the characters personality and role in the grand scheme of things. Don tells the crowd all about his cultured, utterly refined upbringing, while flashbacks reveal that hes lying his pants off. Singin in the rain 1952 is a metamusical which captures the struggle a silent film production company has in the process of transitioning into talkies films with actual sound dialogue between characters.
Singin in the rain essays are academic essays for citation. Plunketts challenge walter plunkett, who had previously created scarlett oharas wardrobe in gone with the wind, served as the costume designer on singin in the rain. Singin in the rain essays in stanley donen and gene kellys musical, singin in the rain, they take an interesting look into the world of hollywood. Donen got an honorary oscar in 1998, and stole the show by singing cheek to cheek while dancing with his statuette. It offers a lighthearted depiction of hollywood in the late 1920s, with the three stars portraying performers caught up in the transition from silent films to talkies the film was only a modest hit when it was. The song good morning was featured in the legends of tomorrow season 3 episode phone home.
Analysis of singing in the rain 1429 words bartleby. The image that everyone remembers from singin in the rain has gene kelly, dressed in a yellow slicker, hanging from a lamppost and swinging his umbrella in the wild joy of new love. In 1952, singin in the rain was an affectionate wink at a bygone era of the entertainment industry, but by now, its an old hollywood gem in its own right. Singin in the rain is a 1952 moviemusical all about the movies, including musicals. It offers a comic depiction of hollywood, and its transition from silent films to talking films. Singin in the rain 1952 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Voice and sound in singin in the rain ufilm analysis blog. The dialogue was very witty, especially amongst don, kathy, and cosmo.
This film tells us that in 1927 film was a business that was booming. It stars don lockwood and lina lamont, two of the brightest silent film stars in hollywood. Within the classic hollywood musical, singin in the rain, there are many historical references associated with the birth of the talkies. It was codirected by stanley donen, then only 28, and kelly, who supervised the choreography. It helps to add irony to the plot as well as comedic support. There is no movie musical more fun than singin in the rain, and.
Singing in the rain analysis film studies essay free essay. Singin in the rain is a 1952 american musical romantic comedy film directed and. The three starsgene kelly, donald oconnor and 19yearold debbie reynoldsmust have rehearsed endlessly for their dance numbers, which involve alarming acrobatics, but in performance theyre giddy with joy. Even though the song singing in the rain was used many times in japanese commercials and familiar with me, this is the first time for me to watch the singing in the rain as a film and i realized this film has not only the singing in the rain but also other memorable impressive songs. Mar 19, 2012 singin in the rain s ingin in the rain 1952 is a metamusical which captures the struggle a silent film production company has in the process of transitioning into talkiesfilms with actual sound dialogue between characters. Oct 02, 2017 even though singing in the rain is an old film, and there are more and more good films coming out which have superb engineering accomplishment and computing machine attempt, i want to state that it is a film that you will non experience regret to watch, even over and over once more. The scene in which gene kelly sings you were meant for me is featured in the 2015 nancy meyers film the intern.
Singin in the rain cinema and media studies oxford. Lina, however, mistakes the onscreen romance for real love. Lockwood could have been ruined as an actor with the new development of sound in filmmaking but instead he found a way to use his old talents to become a star as a musical actor. Singin in the rain is my favorite movie that is not apart of a series aka the lord of the rings. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of singin in the rain by gene kelly.
When don and linas latest film is transformed into a musical, don has the perfect voice for the songs. Film analysis of singing in the rain 26 words 6 pages singin in the rain was originally released in 1952, until it concealed by another prestigious film called, an american in paris. Singin in the rain 1952 is one of the mostloved and celebrated film musicals of all time from mgm, before a mass exodus to filmed adaptations of broadway plays emerged as a standard pattern. Don has worked hard to get where he is today, with his former partner cosmo. The films story began more than twenty years before its release. It was enjoyable to watch, particularly because it was comedic in nature. It helped me come to grips with the film like i have never before. Of course, since i am not a film major, i didnt notice a lot of the technical things that you pointed out. It address the conflict between television and film industry. Analysis of a scene when i was little my parents showed me the infamous scene in singin in the rain where gene kelly, in a moment of genuine happiness, dances and sings on the side of a street in the pouring rain. A silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound. Why singin in the rain is an almost perfect musical. The scene builds to agloriously saturated ecstasy as kelly stomps through the puddles of water in the gutters, making big wet splashes. If we look at the film and break it down, we can see that the elements that make it so great are partly unique to the time of its.
The behindthescenes tales of the films production are themselves singin in the rainworthy, like the story of how gene kelly filmed the title scene with a 103degree fever, wearing a wool suit. Throughout the movie, people could see many different elements that make the movie musical singing in the rain great. As the music swells to a climax, each spins around and. Lockwood could have been ruined as an actor with the new development of sound in film making but instead he found a way to use his old talents to become a star as a musical actor. Nov 09, 2011 what is incredible about singin in the rain is how it introduces new bits and pieces to the general film techniques, while still uses and experimenting with the techniques before. With the advent of sound in motion pictures, it is decided to turn don and linas new film into a talkie and a musical at that. Singing in the rain is an american comedy musical film starring gene kelly, debbie reynolds, donald oconnor and jean hagen, and directed by gene kelly and stanley donen.
Thank you for watching the summary of singing in the rain. Thats why singin in the rain, which wasnt even nominated for an oscar in the 1952 race, remains one of the mostloved films of all time. Though singin in the rain is more integrated than bandwagon and other films about the theatre 42nd street, easter parade etc. What the cinematography did for actors singing in the. Buster keaton practiced a strict standard of space and movement within an environment and extended that focus to the space and movement within the frame of the camera lens. Singing in the rain analysis film studies essay assignment.
Apr 26, 20 i agree with all this but think the film is one of the genre about showbiz generally and film specifically like the bandwagon. Feb 08, 2014 in singin in the rain, both don and lina although lina is a bit more oblivious face their anxieties about this transition which was a potentially careerending force in the tailend of the 1920s leading into the 1930s golden age of hollywood. A close reading of an iconic scene in singin in the rain. The entire sequence, from the moment kelly begins to dance until the. The exception is singin in the rain, the 1952 release from codirectors gene kelly and stanley donen, which remains distinguished from the. Singin in the rain 1952 is a comedy musical about the difficult transition hollywood actors faced when film went from silent to talkie. Singin in the rain is a metamusical it explores the transition of a movie studio from silent film to sound, all set to a musical script. Two particular areas of interest for scholars and the. Singin in the rain stands as a supreme example of evolution in this technique as is evident in the selective editing and use of long shots in numbers. Sep 25, 2015 the final image is when don and kathy are standing and kissing in front of the billboard with their film singin in the rain on it.
The joyous film, codirected by stanley donen and acrobatic dancerstarchoreographer gene kelly, is a charming, upbeat, graceful and. The implicit meaning of the film would be adapting to a changing world. What is incredible about singin in the rain is how it introduces new bits and pieces to the general film techniques, while still uses and experimenting with the techniques before. But reading your analysis, i can definitely see how those things perfected the scene. Film analysis singin in the rain acting technique youtube. Essay singing of the rain directed by gene kelly and stanley donen. One of my favorite things about singing in the rain is the elaborate miseenscene, which contributes to the film within a film or world. Singing in the rain other than being an amazing musical, it showed us the hardship that filmmakers and actors had when the transition from silent to talkies took place. Cinematographer harold rosson had to light the rain from behind while simultaneously frontlighting gene kelly to make the rain show up on film without kelly appearing as a dancing silhouette. The situational humor within and the making a musical with of a musical make this.
Singin in the rain has become so popular, that the american film institute named it the fifth greatest movie of all time in 2006. By the 1940s, freed now head of his own mgm unit wanted to create a musical from his own back catalogue. Nov 20, 2018 singing in the rain other than being an amazing musical, it showed us the hardship that filmmakers and actors had when the transition from silent to talkies took place. I agree with all this but think the film is one of the genre about showbiz generally and film specifically like the bandwagon. Through its use of postsync sound within the filmic space as well as outside, ironic voiceover narration, and hyperbolic musical numbersspecifically, singin in the rain, make em laugh, and the broadway melody sequencestanley donen and gene kellys singin in the rain fosters a high degree of reflexivity. Well see if, in 60 years, anyones fondly looking back. As a satire, it deconstructs the movie trade and finds humor in the truth about the industrys shortcomings. Even though singing in the rain is an old film, and there are more and more good films coming out which have superb engineering accomplishment and computing machine attempt, i want to state that it is a film that you will non experience regret to watch, even over and over once more. Sep 27, 20 within the classic hollywood musical, singin in the rain, there are many historical references associated with the birth of the talkies.
It was made directly for film, and was not a broadway adaptation. Singin in the rain is often cited not only in research into the studio system mgm in particular and as an arthur freed production of the producerunit system, but also in cinematic analysis of almost every kind, especially cultural, historical, gender, and, of course, aesthetic. In the movies, this film seems to say, anything is possibleand almost none of it is true. This film has stood the test of time as one of great classics. Singing in the rain analysis film studies essay free. I have to give credit to jim emersons blog post on some of the greatest long takes in cinema history for this weeks observations on a shot inspiration. The real meaning behind the creation of singin in the rain. Also, another threat to the film industry was the greater highculture pretensions posed to films that were just for entertaining.
Film analysis of singing in the rain by john lockwood 827 words 4 pages. Kellys soakingwet singin in the rain dance number is the single most memorable dance number on film, peter wollen wrote in a. Singin in the rain uses popular music of its time that people may already be familiar with. This is a success until the crowd at the premier of the full movie, the deuling cavallier, demands that lina sing for them. Analysis of singin in the rain essay 1112 words bartleby. Apr 11, 2012 thats why singin in the rain, which wasnt even nominated for an oscar in the 1952 race, remains one of the mostloved films of all time. With gene kelly, donald oconnor, debbie reynolds, jean hagen. I wrote this analysis for one of my film classes and had a bawl doing. Apr 19, 2011 singin in the rain is a metamusical it explores the transition of a movie studio from silent film to sound, all set to a musical script. Gene kelly stars in the movie alongside debbie reynolds and donald oconnor. Make em laugh in particular has a series of long shots to display the ever increasing physical choreography along with some select full and medium shots to bring focus to donald oconnors facial expressions and comic timing. In a way, donen and kellys film serves as a memory theater to recount this. However, singing in the rain closely follows what classical hollywood film is supposed to be and a clockwork orange definitely tests the idea.
The 1952 film exemplifies the key elements of a beloved hollywood genre. Singin in the rain shows that hollywood and show business are built on illusions. Sep 26, 20 singin in the rain explicitly deals with the hollywood filmmaking process throughout the film as the actors at the time in film had to transitions from the entertainment they were performing in hollywood which was often silent films with music, to talkies because of the release of the jazz singer, in 1927 there was a remake of the. He really is an amazing performer both dancing and singing and really letting the audience feel his joy. Kathy is brought on to dub her speaking and singing voice in secret, and dons on. Film streams is a 501c3 nonprofit organization in omaha, nebraska.
Make em laugh in particular has a series of long shots to display the ever increasing physical choreography along with some select full and medium shots to bring focus to donald o. If we look at the film and break it down, we can see that the elements that make it so great are partly unique to the time of its creation. Singin in the rain codirector stanley donen explained in this directors guild association column, there have been a lot of stories about how we. This statistic can be attributed to the musical numbers that it incorporates. Singin in the rain analysis singin in the rain is my favorite movie that is not apart of a series aka the lord of the rings. Film essay singin in the rain by lorne graham, national affiliate program manager, nemc as a professional musician and film lover, i will offer recommendations to visitors to the website on musicbased films that are inspiring, joyous, artistic, and exhibit fine filmmaking. A parody of the number singin in the rain was featured in the 2005 animated film robots where fender robin williams breaks out singing and dancing after dropping off a date. Instead of rain he says oil to fit the films theme, and emulates gene kellys iconic swing on the lamppost.
964 956 995 721 907 700 1309 611 896 272 1168 889 1069 854 115 1227 94 271 1378 1050 1659 1053 1555 85 8 785 1357 626 805 868 385 1456 580