Posted on 01/03/2017 10:36:37 AM PST by Rummyfan
Two-thirds of a century ago, the lyricist-turned-movie-producer Arthur Freed called Betty Comden and Adolph Green into his office and told them to write a film script with all his old songs in and call it Singin' In The Rain. As Miss Comden said to me many years later, "All we knew is that somewhere we'd have to have a scene where it was raining and a guy was singing."
"In it," added Adolph Green.
Ah, yes, but why is he singing in it? What, as they fret at drama school, is his motivation?
Well, his motivation is Debbie Reynolds. The boy, the girl and the best pal have "gabbed the whole night through" (as they sing in "Good Morning") pondering how to resolve a crisis, and in the wee small hours Gene Kelly returns Miss Reynolds to her humble lodgings and kisses her on the doorstep. It's a bleak, sodden night, and she turns up his collar and advises him to be mindful of the downpour: "This California dew is just a little heavier than usual tonight."
"Really?" says Kelly. "From where I stand, the sun is shining all over the place." They kiss again, she slips inside her flat, and he shoos away the cab, steps out of the doorway and into the rain. And then the guy starts singing. In it.
(Excerpt) Read more at steynonline.com ...
Singing in the Rain, the song and movie, are timeless and wholesome Americana. Reynolds was the star, not Kelly or O’Conner. She will be immortal in film.
After reading this, I searched my Netflix account and saw “long wait.” Not surprised.
SITR is the greatest movie ever, in my book. Decided some time ago it is even greater than GWTW.
As for Debbie Reynolds, another of the great bright personalities of old-time film, who made movies pop. Sure, she didn’t have top-notch movies all the time like SITR, but lots of good nice fun easy to indulge in again and again, like “Tammy and the Bachelor” and “Two Weeks with Love” (her debut, as kid sister [just as referenced in SITR], w/Abba Dabba putting her on the map and a great funny movie overall], and even real low smaltz like “Bundle of Joy” or “Goodbye Charlie”!
I liked the Fred Astaire part of the story - one of the few people in Hollywood who seemed like a genuinely nice guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ocpm_AFmSmE
My wife and I have been watching all of our Debbie Reynolds’ movies these past few days and Singing In The Rain was watched last night along with Hit The Deck.
A much overlooked performance was Debbie Reynold’s in the quirky “Mother” with Albert Brooks. She was perfect.
Nah. My vote is Gene was the star.
Go to Amazon and buy the DVD. Well worth it with the commentary and background info.
Five years ago, she decided to sell her movie memorabilia, because she wanted her and her kids - Todd and Carrie - to enjoy life before they got too old. By then she and her daughter had found a modus vivendi.Last Tuesday and Wednesday they found a modus moriendi, eerie and fantastical and with a final line - "I want to be with Carrie" - as memorable as any she ever uttered on screen.
The word "trouper" is grossly abused, but Debbie Reynolds was one, trouping, trouping, trouping until one bleak Christmas morning-after, when she decided to hang up the tap shoes and exit.
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Possibly the loveliest lady to ever ascend a stage.
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My older daughter fell in love with SITR almost 20 years ago. First we gave her the VHS, and then the DVD. Next, myu younger daughter fell in love with it about 10 years ago. She choreographed to Moses last year for a tap routine. My girls and I got tickets to the liver performance for Christmas. Our tickets were for the 28th :(.
Oh ... we saw Rogue One the day before that.
I totally agree. It's one of the few VHS videos I made a point to buy 20 years ago, and still hold on to.
I don’t think there is a more interesting writer in America today than Mark Steyn
Bump....
I always like Fred Astaire better than Gene Kelly. I don’t know why for sure. They always mention the “athleticism” of Gene Kelly and I don’t disagree with that. Last night I watched Astaire in Daddy Long Legs bounce drum sticks off the floor during one of his dance numbers. I just liked him better.
We all know Lina Lamont was the “shimmering, glowing star”!
ABSOLUTELY right! A glittering, glowing star in the cinema firm-a-ment.
Astaire and Kelly had different dancing styles. Astaire was more classic, Kelly more “the working man’s dancer.” I have always preferred Kelly.
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