Singing in The Rain: a Timeless Cinematic Triumph

Introduction

“What a glorious feeling...” it is to watch romance, comedy, and history all rolled into one movie with the brilliance and ease that is displayed on screen in the movie Singing in the Rain (CITE). This movie, which occupies the fifth spot on AFI’s Top 100 list, takes place in the Roaring Twenties and is an autobiography of Hollywood’s filmmaking industry during the era of talkies and shines a comical light on all the problems that came along with these new developments in film. With the success of the movie Jazz Singer produced by Monumental Studios, (a film production within Singing in the Rain), all the stops are pulled out to transition to the age of talking movies. Don Lockwood and Cozmo Brown, with help from newcomer Kathy Seldon, put their endless talents to work to capture all the setbacks in the creation of talkies with hilarious results. The result is a top-five movie that is still captivating viewers sixty-seven years later. There is no movie musical more alluring in entertainment than the illustrious Singing in the Rain; directors Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen hit every note in this smash hit, from learning the history of film-making through hilarious satire to jaw-dropping dance numbers performed tirelessly in hard-hitting conditions, the audience is left wanting to see more of this timeless classic.

The Role of Satire in Singing in the Rain

When it comes to comedy, one of the easiest ways to make people laugh is by criticizing and exaggerating modern-day mishaps, or in more simplistic terms, through the use of satire. The use of satire in movie making is especially popular because it is a spectacular way to bring in revenue. According to Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Lloyd Schwartz, “Hollywood is often at its best when it's making fun of itself, and few movies are funnier or more fun than Singin' in the Rain, the broadly satirical musical comedy about the transition from silent movies to sound” (Schwartz). Notably, Horatian is the most widely used type of satire in Singin’ in the Rain because the movie is meant to be light-hearted and witty as opposed to Juvenalian satire that is commonly heard in late-night shows cracking bitter jokes about politics. Everything in Hollywood is exaggerated, and that is exactly what audiences are drawn in by and how viewers become addicted to all different types of film. Movie producers use this to their advantage in Singin’ in the Rain by exaggerating every obstacle film companies stumbled over in their attempt to convert to talking films. Robert Ebert, an American film critic, summarizes the movie’s tactic by stating, “The movie simplifies the changeover from silents to talkies, but doesn't falsify it.” Ebert is relaying to the audience that the movie may hide microphones in plain sight and place cameras in soundproof booths, which seems counterproductive to the creation of films with sound. But the movie is portrayed accurately, including the fact that people were indeed laughing when they first heard certain famous actors talk (Ebert).

Caricatured satire is highly prevalent in Singin’ in the Rain as the film takes stereotypical personalities and exaggerates them in its depiction of the characters. The most obvious example of a caricatured personality is Lena Lemont, the fictional leading lady. In the movie, she is portrayed as a ditzy blonde with a shrill voice who is unable to see her shortcomings which comes out as humorous in the movie. Lena Lemont is needed in the fictional movie studio within Singin’ in the Rain for her star power, but her star power is only beneficial to the studio when her irritating voice and idiotic remarks are hidden from the public. Because of this role, she has some of the funniest lines in the movie: 'What do they think I am? Dumb or something? Why, I make more money than Calvin Coolidge put together!” (Kelly and Donen). Ms. Lemont’s advisors try to preserve her stardom by keeping her from speaking to the public, with her horrid voice and keep the secret of her voice-over in her newest movies hidden, but she insists on being allowed to interact with her fans which leads to her career’s downfall. The audience hears her speak and is dumbfounded, over the edge in hysteria when they realize who the real voice is behind Lena Lemont's face. Cozmo Brown has the iconic solo Make ‘Em Laugh that hits on every slapstick gag on the century in one scene. No matter how dumb or random what you are doing is, if it makes them laugh it is good. This musical production makes fun of all the violent length humor takes in silent films (Basinger). A similar case to these could be made for many other major characters in the movie as satire pervades every part of the film and has kept this movie popular for decades.

Singing in the Rain: Musical Masterpiece

For Singin’ in the Rain to have a place in AFI’s Top 100 list it must not only be funny, but it must effectively integrate all of its musical components. According to Jeanine Basinger, the founder and professor of film studies at Wesleyan University and curator of their cinema archives, to have a truly good musical, it must meet three basic requirements. First, the audience must recognize that it is a normality for the characters to sing and dance through the day in the world they inhabit. In other words, it is essential that the audience understands that this film is a musical where the characters sing and dance their way through life. Secondly, the songs and story must be related. The musical numbers should help advance the plot and not interrupt the story-telling (Basinger). Singin’ in the Rain accomplishes this in two ways. First of all, it is a musical about making a musical, therefore the songs and dances are a natural part of the story. Furthermore, the writers seamlessly work the musical numbers into the scenes. One example of this is when the characters are contriving an idea for Lena Lemont’s voiceover and the plot flawlessly rolls over into song. The well known musical number Good Morning is sung to demonstrate their idea and after a long night of work they fall over onto the couch as if after the song and dance number they have snapped back into the reality of real life. The musical structure of Singin’ in the Rain very clearly is up to par with every requirement to have a fantastic movie musical, which is exactly what this movie is.

Critics everywhere could hardly believe what they were seeing as the movie characters performed one amazing, but brutal musical number after another. The first song and dance routine to stun its audience was Make Em’ Laugh which was so rigorous that Donald O’Connor was rushed to the hospital after performing it because it was so physically taxing on his body (Ewing). O’Connor was asked to do many dance moves he had once mastered in his youth, but his now much less youthful body could not take the pressure of the advanced choreography. Robert Ebert went as far as to say that “Kelly and O'Connor had dancing styles that were more robust and acrobatic than the grandmaster, Fred Astaire (Ebert).” Singin’ in the Rain’s musical numbers clearly astonished everyone who watched as not just one, but many movie critics were obsessing over them. Lloyd Shwartz, yet another movie critic touched on how the producers made a “...breathlessly acrobatic number just for Donald O’Connor (Shwartz).” It’s always eye-catching to see someone truly talented at dancing; for audiences to get to see dancer after dancer perform entertaining numbers throughout the whole movie keeps everyone engaged for hours. Musical numbers in Singin’ in the Rain are like extravagant dancing tutorials if only you can keep up and they have been keeping this movie alive for decades.

Timeless and Enduring Movie

A movie being timely or current is not the same as a movie being timeless. For a movie to be timeless it needs to have some sort of unusual wow factor that brings the film together in a unique way. Journalist Reed Johnson writes about “Films that Last” saying, “Often movies that end up best encapsulating their eras… seldom speak to the issues of the day in literal-minded ways. (Johnson, R)” In Singin’ in the Rain the movie plot is presented in such a way that it must last for ages. The history of talkies is not just explained, but told with excitement and joy. The story is told through humor and song which helps to touch on all the hard, silly, and flat out stupid aspects from this era. Nothing is told in a literal or blunt way because the writers knew that was not the way to a movie’s success. This movie is not just classic, but it is timeless. A classic could be described by achievements or influential themes and although this movie may have some of these factors, being timeless is different. Timeless movies resonate with its audience in a special way because no matter what part of your life you are in that movie will always be a go-to for you. Singin’ in the Rain had this effect of a huge amount of people. “Somehow, some way, when you come across them [a timeless movie] on cable late at night, they resonate as much with the grown-up you as they did with the teenage you… they’re rites of passage for many people. (Giannetti and Goodykoontz)” This film has been singing to people for years and is still as relevant as ever; maybe not relevant in modern-day politics or current events, but it is important to people's families and it brings back family memories. Singin’ in the Rain is timeless simply because sixty-seven years later people around the world still cannot get enough of it.

One might argue that the movie Singin in the Rain does not deserve a spot on the AFI’s Top 100 List because even with all the musical components, jokes, and the rankings it may have it skips past the actors’ careers and how their actions should be affecting their lives. The characters are in trouble; their fame, self-respect, and livelihoods are on the line, but the film rarely acknowledges this, and when it does, it does not do enough emotionally to make you feel it. “The film is so busy cracking jokes and dancing around that you never feel that the characters are in trouble. (Hunter)” Movie critics such as Hunter would be mistaken, for the movie was not created to highlight the actors’ personal lives or their specific actions in developing their career, but they were merely helpers in the bigger picture; getting across the story of talkies and all the ridiculous problems Hollywood endured during this era. One final criticism of the movie is that the characters are too stereotypical, but this is exactly what the producers wanted! This stereotypical design is what is so endearing to fans when they watch and rewatch this classic.

Conclusion

Singin’ in the Rain did not make it to the AFI’s Top 100’s list by any sort of miracle, but through the hard work and dedication of its talented cast and directors. Its catchy musical numbers, rich humor, and romantic flair truly make it one for the ages and it likely will be for another sixty-seven years. The audience gets enriched and enlightened by the history of talkies in a fun and unique way. Without a doubt, this hit film earned its spot on AFI’s list. As actor Debby Renolds put it best, “For years film historians analysed this tightly woven story, spectacular musical numbers and wonderful performances, only to come to the same conclusion, that, it’s just a fabulous movie (Renolds).” 

Works Cited

1. Ebert, R. 'Singin' in the Rain.' RogerEbert.com, January 18, 2004.
2. Basinger, J. 'The Movie Musical!' Alfred A. Knopf, 2019.
3. Kelly, G., & Donen, S. 'Singin' in the Rain' [Film]. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1952.
4. Schwartz, L. 'Singing in the Dark: 500 Songs for Film and Television.' University of Michigan Press, 2010.
5. Shwartz, L. 'Singin' in the Rain: Hollywood’s Sudden Transition from Silent Films to Sound.' The Berkshire Eagle, December 9, 2001.
6. Ewing, J. 'Celebrities: Donald O'Connor.' Scotsman.com, September 28, 2003.
7. Johnson, R. 'Films That Last: A List to Stand the Test of Time.' Los Angeles Times, December 19, 2019.
8. Giannetti, L., & Goodykoontz, B. 'Understanding Movies.' Pearson, 2017.
9. Hunter, S. 'Singing in the Rain.' The Washington Post, January 1, 1970.
10. Renolds, D. 'Singin' in the Rain.' Debby Renolds' Official Website, debbiereynolds.com.