SITA is another movie that was 'just another musical' until French critics in the 60s took it up and passed it along to American critics in the 70s. At the time 'An American in Paris' was much more highly regarde'.
WRONG.
Singin' in the Rain was preferred in box-office sales at its release compared to American in Paris. It is PARIS that is MORE preferred by critics. Never mind it continued having more popularity since then, all along.
Thankfully, it is so good that even critics can't "criticize" it, as they do most "mass-appeal" pieces.