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Singin' in the Rain
Artful Dilettante ^ | December 29, 2016 | Artful Dilettante

Posted on 12/29/2016 2:56:59 PM PST by huckfillary

The passing of the legendary actress, Debbie Reynolds, coming one day after she lost her lovely daughter, Carrie Fisher, prompted me to watch the Youtube clip of Gene Kelly's "Singin' in the Rain." The scene is one of the all-time Hollywood classics, maybe the best song-and-dance take in cinema history.

But the scene calls to mind a far more primary and significant idea to me than the genius of Gene Kelly and his emotional outpouring at finding his true love in the character played by Debbie Reynolds. The scene absolutely epitomizes the optimism and forward-looking nature of the historic American mindset. Americans have always been singin' in the rain. And despite wars, poverty, and the grinding, daily propaganda we're fed that we're doomed to lifelong penury and meaninglessness, Americans continue singin' in the rain.

And that's what drives our enemies, foreign and domestic, nuts---whether its Islamic terrorists or the sushi-loving coastal elites that lie awake at night thinking that someone, somewhere might be happy, or at least content. Do you ever see Arabs singin' in the rain? No, but it's not because they haven't any rain, it's because they have nothing to sing about, or they're not allowed to.

Like Gene Kelly, Americans are singin' and dancin' in the rain---because they've earned it---with their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And generations of hard work and resolute determination in the face of whatever misfortune fate would deal us. Americans either defeat adversity or suck it up---while singin' and dancin' in the rain. They don't cry, or whine, or seek safe spaces.

It's raining here in Huntingdon. And so tonight, in honor of Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and the American spirit of optimism, I'm going to play that clip over and over---and just keep singin' and dancin' in the rain. I invite you to do the same. https://www.google.com/search…


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: carriefisher; debbiereynolds; optimism
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1 posted on 12/29/2016 2:56:59 PM PST by huckfillary
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To: huckfillary


Debbie Reynolds - Dominique (The Singing Nun, 1966)
2 posted on 12/29/2016 3:01:31 PM PST by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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To: huckfillary

Did that the other evening
Debbie had never danced before. Had not even had one lesson. So many takes that she ended up with bleeding feet. Trooper is an underestimate of her work ethic and desire to succeed.


3 posted on 12/29/2016 3:06:30 PM PST by hoosiermama (“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year.” Dickens)
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To: Kid Shelleen

I heard somewhere today that she took up dancing only three months before shooting this movie. Amazing.


4 posted on 12/29/2016 3:07:08 PM PST by itsahoot (Three words I don't want to hear, Comprehensive Immigration Reform.)
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To: huckfillary

I have so many Debbie Reynolds movies in my film library. I guess everyone knows her from Singing In The Rain or How The West Was Won but some of my favorites were films like A Date With Judy or Susan Slept Here.

The only Carrie Fisher movie I ever saw was the original Star Wars in 1977 (I think it was then).

Both will be missed.


5 posted on 12/29/2016 3:16:38 PM PST by Ammo Republic 15
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To: Kid Shelleen

“Dominique” is about the thirteenth-century Spanish crusader, evangelist and diplomat Domingo de Guzmán—not very politically correct in these times.


6 posted on 12/29/2016 3:29:19 PM PST by Rufii
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To: Ammo Republic 15

Correction: I confused A Date With Judy with Athena.

Both have Jane Powell but only Athena has both Debbie and Jane.
A Date With Judy has Debbie with Elizabeth Taylor.


7 posted on 12/29/2016 3:32:21 PM PST by Ammo Republic 15
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To: huckfillary

I find myself listening to “Tammy” and songs from “Charlotte’s Web”. I loved the dance Debbie did with O’Connor and Gene Kelly. Turning that couch over and dancing right back over it was dancing genius. RIP Debbie.......I’ve loved you since I was a little girl........;(


8 posted on 12/29/2016 3:35:42 PM PST by Dawgreg (Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.)
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To: huckfillary

Best movie ever...hilarious, and Gene Kelly? Mama Mia, what a looker, er...hoofer. :) I used to have a web site up for this film. Debbie Reynolds was great. Don Lockwood and Kathy Seldon were the original Han and Leia. So much talent in this movie that it’s staggering.


9 posted on 12/29/2016 4:45:56 PM PST by freepertoo
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To: huckfillary
My favorite Debbie Reynolds movie is still "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", with a close second being "How The West Was Won"! Of course, can't leave off "Tammy & The Bachelor" with Leslie Nielson.

RIP! Debbie & Carrie....

10 posted on 12/29/2016 4:50:17 PM PST by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: Bushbacker1
with a close second being "How The West Was Won"!

"Now children, I'm going to teach you a game called poker."

11 posted on 12/29/2016 4:51:34 PM PST by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: Kid Shelleen

Thank you for posting.


12 posted on 12/29/2016 4:53:07 PM PST by Road Warrior ‘04 (Molon Labe! (Oathkeeper))
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To: huckfillary

I watched the whole movie last night on 123movies.

The best dance routines (”Fit as a fiddle” and Gene Kelleys Singin in the rain). I loved Gene Kelley. But he was hard on Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor, as he was a perfectionist. He later said he was surprised she spoke to him after the movie was made.

It’s very hard to believe Debbie Reynolds had no dance experience, wit only 3 months to get up to speed to be able to dance with these two men.

She had amazing talent.


13 posted on 12/29/2016 5:00:08 PM PST by submarinerswife (Allahu FUBAR.)
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To: itsahoot

Gene was her teacher. He warned her in advance that she’d have to dance like a pro in short order...after all she would be dancing with O’Connor and Kelly. She never really forgave him for the gruelling practice he put her through, but the result was worth it. Kudos to both Gene and Debbie.


14 posted on 12/29/2016 5:01:53 PM PST by freepertoo
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To: huckfillary

Carleton Carpenter and Debbie Reynolds, Abba Dabba Honeymoon from Two Weeks with Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJHJAkhacGU

She is 18 and dances good. I bet Gene Kelly saw the performance and picked her knowing she could do the dance scenes.


15 posted on 12/29/2016 7:35:57 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: minnesota_bound

Debbie Reynolds does the jitterbug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDVOF3uYhEU
Johnny Carson was pretty good too.


16 posted on 12/29/2016 7:45:32 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: submarinerswife

Dignity.


17 posted on 12/29/2016 8:14:15 PM PST by Proyecto Anonimo
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To: minnesota_bound

She was a natural.

Carleton Carpenter and Debbie Reynolds, Row Row Row, from Two Weeks with Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEX7VZX2peo


18 posted on 12/29/2016 8:29:52 PM PST by minnesota_bound
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To: Proyecto Anonimo

LOL Dignity.


19 posted on 12/29/2016 8:43:17 PM PST by submarinerswife (Allahu FUBAR.)
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To: Ammo Republic 15
Debbie wasn't in A DATE WITH JUDY! That was Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Powell.

To see Carrie Fisher, outside of STAR WARS...watch SHAMPOO. She doesn't have a major/large role, but she's very good in it. Also see WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.

20 posted on 12/29/2016 10:25:04 PM PST by nopardons
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