McKinnis

Christopher McKinnis
Professor Julie Hicks
LBST 1102-Arts and Society: Film
22 September 2015
Singin in the Rain Film Analysis
Acknowledged as one of the best Hollywood musicals of all time (Berardinelli),
Singin in the Rain (1952), directed by Stanley Donan and Gene Kelly, is a Hollywood
masterpiece detailing the magic of making movies. Through repetitive usage of joyous
and charming singing and dancing and the incorporation of memorable characters thanks
to well-performed acting, Singin in the Rain perfectly portrays the transformation of
modern film from silent movies to the beginnings of todays talkies. There are many
aspects that help elevate this film to a level that cannot be touched by most movies, and
with such high level of technicality in the music, choreography, and in the skill of the
actors, Singin in the Rain would not be the same.
Singin in the Rain, according to Scott McGee, epitomizes everything that made
the musical genre such an exciting form of entertainment during the heyday of the studio
era (McGee). This point is valid when discussing the aspects of the film that help make
it one of my favorite films that I have seen so far. In my opinion, I found the music to be
a crucial part of how the film progressed and represents the nature of the 1920 American
society. For example, all of the musical numbers, with Broadway Melody as the partial
exception, possessed such a positive, upbeat, and entertaining vibe that allows the
audience to become fully engaged in the music and dancing. On the topic of dancing, the
choreography for me was another defining characteristic of the film that contributed to
the movies overall upbeat and charismatic nature. A good example of this was the

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musical number Make Em Laugh, where Donald OConners character Cosmo Brown
exhibits an extraordinary routine of well-choreographed dancing. The intricacy that is
involved during this routine can be overlooked by the crazy tricks and stunts that
OConner pulls off, but the work that he performs is truly remarkable and helps elevate
the quirky and fun vibe that resonates throughout the movie. A third point that is worthy
making a note of is the brilliance of Gene Kellys acting ability to be able to not only
portray a time period that underwent such a drastic change in the way movies were seen
and made, but to portray a character as complex as Don Lockwood. Gene Kelly is a
brilliant actor, which such talent in the art of dance, singing, and theater. However, his
sheer ability to elevate not only a character but the film as a whole is truly remarkable,
and he is by far one of my favorite actors/performers of all time (Haver).
Although Singin in the Rain was produced in 1952, and the time period that the
movie was set in was the 1920s, there are many similarities between the Hollywood that
was portrayed in the movie and the Hollywood society that thrives today. One of the
primary similarities that actually plays a crucial part to the development of the movie is
the concept of fake relationships; this is tested through the relationship between Don
Lockwood and Lina Lamont. From the beginning of the film, the audience is already
provided with enough information that Don has no feelings for Lina whatsoever, yet he
stays with her as if they were an item due to the constraints of the acting relationships.
This is quite a common happening in todays Hollywood society, where many actors and
actresses on-screen and on the red carpet act in a manner that appears that there is
something between the two. Unfortunately, this isnt always the case. Another thing that
becomes more prominent in this movie that is a common effect in Hollywood is the usage

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of special effects. In Singin in the Rain, the transition from silent movies to talkies
isnt an easy one, and takes an extensive period of time to master. However, we see in
the movie as it progresses the increased use of special effects in order to further enhance
a scene. The major usage of special effects in Singin in the Rain was used in the rain
scene. The use of sprinklers and hoses helped give the illusion that it was actually raining
during the scene. Filmmakers also used a huge black tarp that they draped over two poles
to help heighten the scene by darkening the scene, giving off a sense of a dreary street. In
todays time, Hollywood (and Americans) are huge fans of special effects, and with
modernized technology, the limits have become conquered. Another important aspect of
the movie that plays an important role in Hollywood today is the usage of the technique
of dubbing and lip synching. In Singin in the Rain, due to her atrocious singing and
voice, Linas voice was dubbed by Kathy Seldon, which protected Linas image until the
end of the movie. This is a common practice in Hollywood, not only in the making of
movies but is also used in the music business by many artists and bands (Haver).
With such a high level of fun, excitement, and exuberance, Singin in the Rain is
by far one of my favorite films that I have seen so far. There are so many things that I
enjoy about this film, but the biggest influence that I truly found to be amazing was the
energy and excitement of the movie. I am a person who loves to have fun and enjoy life
for what it is, and with such comedic characters and entertaining musical numbers
reminded me of what I enjoy, which I really found to be truly refreshing. Another
component of the film that I found to be another deciding factor in my love for this movie
is definitely the musicality of the film. During the 1940s that began on Broadway,
musical numbers were used in order to heighten the plot or to help indicate character

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development and enhancement. Singin in the Rain does not do this, which is a very nice
change to see for most modern films and movies use music on a more interpretive level.
Here, on the contrary, the musical numbers in Singin in the Rain serve the mere purpose
to please the audience with entertaining music and dancing that were light and visually
appealing, but in your face enough to where it wasnt overbearingly happy. Another
influential factor in my favoritism towards this film is the screenplay. Being able to see
the transition from silent movies to talkies in such a relatively accurate yet entertaining
and humorous manner made it much more interesting learning about the history of the
film business. The script work was masterful, and, as seen by many critics, can be seen
as one of the funniest comedies ever written (McGee).
At the start of its popularity in 1952, Singin in the Rain has become quite
successful, grabbing the hearts of the audience. Although it never won an Oscar, time has
become the films best friend, allowing audiences to fully appreciate the film for what it
is, with no doubt that it is one of the most spellbinding examples of pure cinematic
entertainment ever to unspool in a projector (Berardinelli). I truly recommend this film
to anyone who feels that old films are not worth any time of day, and I promise that their
viewpoint on the classics will change dramatically, because it sure did for me.

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Works Cited
Berardinelli, James. "Singin' in the Rain | Reelviews Movie Reviews." Reelviews Movie
Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.

Haver, Ronald. "Singin' in the Rain." RSS. The Criterion Collection, n.d. Web. 21 Sept.
2015.

McGee, Scott. "TCM's The Essentials: Singin' in the Rain." Turner Classic Movies.
TURNER ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKS, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2015.