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Singin' in the Rain


45. Singin' in the Rain (1952)



Is there anyone who doesn't (at least) like Singin' in the Rain? I know musicals are fairly unpopular around here, but even people who are not particularly into musicals seem to have a unanimous appreciation for this film. Why is that, you ask? Well, it's pretty simple. Singin' in the Rain is simply the best musical that has EVER been made! It looks absolutely stunning, it tells an interesting story, it stars probably the most ingenious musical movie star of all time (Gene Kelly), it features a couple of great songs, the dancing choreographies are incredibly spectacular and, probably most importantly, the film manages to truly touch the viewer's heart.

The film's plot is a classic tale about the decay of the silent motion pictures (and its stars) and the entrance of sound in movies. The film cleverly commentates on one of the most notorious eras in movie history, but ultimately knows how to turn it all into a very positive and classic feel-good ending. Meanwhile, we also get a satisfying bit of wonderful humor, a heartfelt love story and some classic drama. The film's story has been reproduced many times since (most notably in The Artist, be it with a few changements of course), but it's never quite done with so much flair as in Singin' in the Rain.


My second favorite scene of the film.

I myself am quite fond of a good, escapist movie musical now and then. Singin' in the Rain is probably the first film that truly introduced me to the more old-fashioned kind of musicals, which still focus a lot on dance choreographies. I absolutely adored it. To date, it's still my favorite movie musical of all time. It's a magnificent journey of pure top-notch entertainment! It's one of those rare films that, in terms of quality, has never been surpassed in its genre ever, before or since it was made.

Don't think that Singin' in the Rain is the only old-fashioned musical that's worthy of being seen, though! There are plenty of other fantastic musicals and some people would even disagree with me about Singin' in the Rain's authoritative status as the best film in its genre ever made.
If I, myself, would have to choose one old-fashioned musical film that does "approach" Singin' in the Rain's quality and mastery, I would go with Vincente Minnelli's amazing 1953 movie, Band Wagon. Be sure to check that one out if you're ever in the mood for a classic bit of musical entertainment and if you've already seen Singin' in the Rain, of course...

Anyway, I don't think this is a very controversial choice, so I don't feel any further need to defend it either. It's a film that is loved by many and until today it gets praised by practically everyone who sees it or has seen it. I'm merely one of those humble admirers of this fantastic piece of cinema.


My favorite scene of the film, of course!

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