Sunday Echoes: Gene Kelly “Singing In The Rain”
Some say when Hollywood stopped making musicals, they stopped making great movies. While I do not subscribe to that view, I do enjoy the grand musical classics from MGM. The one that I think most Americans who love film have watched over and over is from 1952, “Singing In The Rain”, and includes this classic song with Gene Kelly singing and dancing. A bit of trivia is in order I think, as the following is most interesting. First, this song and dance number was completed in one take! Try that in Hollywood today. Kelly was truly sick with the flu, and had a 103 degree temperature at the time this classic was filmed. In the water there was a bit of milk added so the rain would look just right, and the water bubbles would film better. And now you know the rest of the story…….
This one of the reasons I got into music in the first place… True classic!
I’ve always loved this particular dance number, although it comes in second behind “Moses Supposes His Toeses Smell Like Roses” with Donald O’Connor! One bit of trivia that I can add is that they hollowed out the sidewalk in one spot so Gene could do that part where he slaps his foot in a puddle. To me, he is the consummate dancer–so athletic and effortless (and the best set of buns in the business!)