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tcm · 3 years

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‘The Pollack Rule’ By Donald Liebenson

It’s Valentine’s Day, and TCM’s fancy turns to love in all its many splendored-ness, from the fantasy THE ENCHANTED COTTAGE (‘ 45) to the tearjerker THE WAY WE WERE (’73). I was present when the latter film’s director, Sydney Pollack, made a provocative observation during a press junket while promoting his remake of SABRINA. He said that you could have a good romantic movie about two people who fall in love or fall out of love, but you couldn’t have a good romantic movie about two people already in love. On Valentine’s Day, and throughout the rest of the month, TCM is offering several classic film romances that bear him out and a few that may be exceptions to Pollack’s rule.

IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (‘34)

“Do you love her?”

“YES! But don’t hold that against me, I’m a little screwy myself.”

Frank Capra’s 1934 screwball romance (one of the few comedies to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with the other top four categories) is all about conflict: Clark Gable is a disgraced newspaper man who needs a big story. Claudette Colbert is a woman who provides it for him when she runs away to reunite with the fiancée of whom her father disapproves. He’s a man of the people; she’s a spoiled heiress who for all her millions doesn’t know how to dunk (her donut in coffee, that is). Thrown together on the road, they bicker and banter until finally love emerges triumphant.

THE LADY EVE (‘41)

“You certainly are a funny girl for anybody to meet who`s just been up the Amazon for a year.''

Fleecing Charles Pike (Henry Fonda), “the tall, backward boy who's always toying with toads and things” is easy enough for card shark Jean (Barbara Stanwyck). The hard part is falling in love with her mark. But that’s only the beginning of Preston Sturges’ breakneck farce that seamlessly combines high wit and low (albeit expertly timed) pratfalls.

CITY LIGHTS (‘31)

“Yes, I can see now.”

Perhaps the main conflict here is Charlie Chaplin opting to make a silent film three years after sound came in. But this rapturous love story makes for his lovely swan song to the silent era. If you can keep a dry eye in the iconic climactic moment when the formerly blind flower seller realizes that the tramp standing before her was her benefactor who helped restore her sight, you are made of sterner stuff than I am.

THE SMILING LIEUTENANT (‘31)

“When we like someone, we smile. But when we want to do something about it, we wink.”

Greater minds than mine (I guess that takes up most of you) have tried to convey the unbearable lightness of being that is the Lubitsch Touch. The last seven minutes of this charming pre-Code Lubitsch gem should do the trick as Maurice Chevalier is flabbergasted by the “jazz up your lingerie” transformation of the heretofore sheltered princess (Miriam Hopkins) he was forced to marry.

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN (‘52)

“You sure look lovely in the moonlight, Kathy.”

Stanley Donen’s glorious musical in which Debbie Reynolds’ aspiring actress Kathy Selden was meant for Gene Kelly’s silent screen star Don Lockwood. But can their love survive the machinations of Don’s screen partner, Lina Lamont, who can’t act, can’t sing and can’t dance but who is determined to remain hitched to his star?

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (‘67)

“You're two wonderful people who happened to fall in love and happen to have a pigmentation problem.

Dr. John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) and Christina Drayton (Katharine Houghton) are an interracial couple in love when the film opens, and they are Switzerland-bound to be married. In this groundbreaking 1967 Oscar-winner, the conflict comes from expected places (“There'll be 100 million people right here in this country who will be shocked and offended and appalled”), but also unexpected: Christina’s own father (Spencer Tracy), who up to this point had considered himself a liberal.

THE PALM BEACH STORY (‘42)

“Sex always has something to do with it, dear.”

Although not as transgressive as a pregnant Betty Hutton in THE MIRACLE OF MORGAN’S CREEK, Preston Sturges’ screwiest comedy hits the ground running with a potent censor-baiting conflict, namely that Claudette Colbert schemes to divorce the struggling architect husband she loves (Joel McCrea) to marry a multi-millionaire who can finance one of her husband’s radical projects. As the besotted millionaire, Rudy Vallee gets the lion’s share of the film’s best lines (“That’s one of the tragedies of this life - that the men who are most in need of a beating up are always enormous.”)

NINOTCHKA (‘39)

“Chemically, we're already quite sympathetic.”

Lovers don’t get more star-crossed than a Communist Russian envoy (Greta Garbo) and a capitalist Parisian playboy (Melvyn Douglas). But like Paris at night, this comedy deftly directed by Lubitch sparkles and glitters. The script, co-written by Billy Wilder, nimbly navigates grim reality and romantic fantasy, as witness a drunken Ninotchka’s pleas to the “people of the world”: “I know, wars will wash over us, bombs will fall, all civilization will crumble, but not yet, please. Wait, wait; what's the hurry? Let us be happy. Give us our moment.”

THE AWFUL TRUTH (‘37)

“In the spring, a young man's fancy lightly turns to what he's been thinking about all winter.”

Married couple Cary Grant and Irene Dunne love each other, so much so that they are willing to go to hilarious lengths to sabotage each other’s new romances after they get divorced over suspicions of infidelity. THE AWFUL TRUTH anticipates by one year Howard Hawks’ BRINGING UP BABY, in which Katharine Hepburn’s character indelibly defines the ethos of screwball comedy: “All that happened, happened because I was trying to keep you near me. I just did anything that came into my head.”

And that’s what love is all about; at least in the movies.

#TCM #Turner Classic Movies #Singin' in the Rain #greta garbo #musical #Donald Liebenson #Valentines Day

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into-control · 4 years

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submission:

Dream of You

Heyyy Into, huge fan of your blog.

In Dream of You, that note that Camila got from the waiter, I've been thinking about it. A lot 🤔🤔

"All I do, the whole day through, is dream of you"

I remember when she was writing the album she kept posting videos of old romance movies she was watching, well...

That quote was taken directly from the song, 'All I do is dream of you', from an old musical film called Singin' in the Rain(1952).

And I can see why she related to it so much.

All I do is dream of you the whole night thru With the dawn, I still go on and dream of you You're every thought, you're every thing, You're every song I ever sing Summer, Winter, Autumn and Spring And were there more than twenty four hours a day They'd be spent in sweet content dreaming away When skies are grey, when skies are blue Morning, noon and night time too All I do the whole day thru, is dream of you

You can find the insightful film summary here: https://www.gradesaver.com/singin-in-the-rain/study-guide/summary

Some points from the summary.

Don Lockwood is a very popular silent movie star who started out as a singer and dancer on the vaudeville circuit, then a stuntman, and then transitioned into becoming a star. The movie studio has created a fake romance between Don and his leading lady, Lina Lamont, to generate public interest about their films. The only problem with this is that Don cannot stand Lina, a vain, crass, and unlikeable woman who happens to look very good on film. (Sounds like Shon 😂😂)

Sounds familiar?

One night, when Lockwood is overwhelmed by a throng of over-enthusiastic fans who rip his jacket, he jumps into a passing car driven by a pretty young woman named Kathy Selden....Later, Lockwood runs into Kathy working on another film, and the couple falls in love. They must keep their romance a secret from Lina, however, who would not approve of it.

Not yet?

Don is disillusioned by the shallowness of fame, as his on-screen love interest, Lina Lamont bores and annoys him. (Lol Camila's shirt the other day)

When we meet Don Lockwood, we see that fame elevates him and gives him a lot of power, but it is also alienating, forcing him into a relationship he doesn't want to be in.

The interplay between fantasy and reality becomes very important to the story. That which seems real is often fake...

One of the major themes throughout the film is Romantic Love:

The soul of the film is the love shared by Lockwood and Kathy. Their love is authentic and real, in contrast with the illusory, manufactured love affair that the public has imagined exists between Lockwood and Lina. For the sake of their careers, Lockwood must pretend that he cares for Lina, and Lina believes in the illusion for the good of her own career.

When Kathy enters Lockwood's life, the emotions he starts feeling toward her become so overpowering that he becomes enamored by her discerning and honest personality. He falls almost instantly in love with her, in spite of their bumpy start, and expresses his love for her earnestly and with a musical flair. The couple become inseparable and enduringly supportive.

At the end, not only does Lockwood expose that Lina's performance is a sham, but he also exposes his previously hidden relationship with Kathy, and shows the world that they are in love, catapulting them both to fame and glory.

Bottom line, the truth was revealed and I believe for us it will be. In due time 😏 #KeepTheShipSailing

#this is so interesting #thank you for this #submission

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stefankarlfanblog · 3 years

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Interview with Rúnar Freyr Gíslason talking about Singin’ in the Rain (2001)

This interview I’m translating mainly has brief mentions of Stefán Karl but still talks more in-depth about the Icelandic version of Singin’ in the Rain that both Stefán Karl and Rúnar Freyr starred in.

Interview written for Dagblaðið Vísir - DV for their weekend paper, published on the 10th of March 2001

Link: https://timarit.is/page/3013021#page/n15/mode/2up

Rúnar Freyr Gíslason Rúnar Freyr plays Don Lockwood in Singing in the Rain. His fiancée, Selma Björnsdóttir, plays Kathy.

Learned tap dancing and fencing

Actor Rúnar Freyr Gíslason takes the lead role in Singing in the Rain

The musical Syngjandi í rigningunni, Singing in the Rain, will be set up on the stage of the National Theater this April. Rúnar Freyr Gíslason takes on one of the main roles and it is safe to say that he has managed to gain a foothold and attracted much deserved attention for his performance on stage despite a short acting career. At the same time as rehearsals for Singing in the Rain are in full swing, he is also playing in Look Back In Anger (Horfðu reiður um öxl) by John Osborne and earlier this year he played in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Draumur á Jónsmessunótt) by Shakespeare and in Antigone. Then there are plans to stage the play The Man Who Wanted to Be a Bird (Maðurinn sem vildi vera fugl), Birdy, in which Rúnar Freyr plays the role that Nicholas Cage immortalized in the film of the same name.

One and many people also know is that Rúnar and Selma Björnsdóttir are a singing couple. They sang together in the musical Grease which was staged at the Reykjavik City Theatre (Borgarleikhúsið) with great popularity and are now going to repeat the adventure in Singin' in the Rain.

Captivated by Kathy

"I play Don Lockwood, Þórunn Lárusdóttir plays Lina Lamont, Selma plays Kathy and Stefán Karl plays Cosmo," explains Rúnar Freyr and praises the director of the work, the British Ken Oldfield, for his work. "It simply came to our notice then. He is so energetic and tears us young people up. He has, approximately, completed the work in five weeks. Now it's just up to us actors to finish the task. "

For those who remember the time of the two, the late Gene Kelly's masterpiece in the 1952 film of the same name. The musical, which takes place in the 1930s in the United States, deals with the filmmakers of the silent films in Hollywood and the reactions that occur in the actors' lives when dubbed films make their way. Don does well in voiced films, but Lina Lamont has a terrible voice that does not fit into films at all. At the same time, Kathy comes into the picture so that it becomes a love triangle where Don becomes the girls' competition. Rúnar Freyr himself says that this is not really a fight as Don and Kathy (Selma and Rúnar) are in love right at the beginning of the musical.

"This in itself is a bit fun for me as I don't have to act much. I'm in love with the girl played by Selma and my best friend in the play, Cosmo, is played by Stefán Karl who was with me at the Drama School and is also a good friend of mine. "

Heavy rain on stage

The staging of a musical as extensive as Singing in the Rain requires a lot of preparation, in addition, more than twenty actors work on the play and an eight-member band takes care of the accompaniment. Among other things, there will be a hell of a lot of rain on stage, just like in the movie when Gene Kelly sang the title song, swung the umbrella and stepped into unforgettable scenes. But is he going to play the scene after?

"I haven’t been watching the film with Gene Kelly as I don’t intend to imitate him. I can’t accept that. However, I have watched many movies from this time, e.g. Pirates and the Three Shooters with Gene Kelly. People behaved differently during this time. The human face was different and more formal in many ways, "says Rúnar Freyr and emphasizes that in the update, the director, Ken Oldfield, tries to get the actors to achieve this old rhythm.

In strict stepping

"I have been in a very strict step dance study in recent months and have also been practicing fencing. It can be said that there is constant joy and energy all the time. There's a lot of comedy in the play, "he says and promises that the step-dancing steps will be perfect before the premiere." It's incredibly difficult but this is all to be expected. Sometimes you look ahead and count the steps. You have to think about it. many things at once, "he says and promises a lot of wetness on the stage where no one is safe, neither actors nor viewers, as special equipment has been imported into the country to ensure that the water can be given the right way without filling the theater with water.

Copper Grease Rúnar Freyr as Danny Zuko in Grease, which was shown with great popularity at the Reykjavik City Theatre (Borgarleikhúsið) in 1998.

Negative media

There is talk of the nature of Icelandic theater life and the criticism that has been leveled at the cultural value of theaters. Are lighter pieces well on their way to becoming the backbone of the Icelandic theater world at the expense of heavier works? Are marketing issues slowly taking over?

"Not at all. Marketing, however, is a good thing and it is necessary to offer comedy mixed with more dramatic works. There are a lot of people who don’t go to shows except when the theaters offer lighter works. Then there are those who want heavier works and then of course these are available too. In this year of the National Theater, there is one musical and one children's play and the rest is on a more dramatic note so I think it's far from easy to gain the upper hand. For example, I never understood when the media frenzy started and it was said on a negative note that the works and these actors were going over to that and these theaters. Number one, two and three in this was in my opinion that there were positive things happening in the Icelandic theater world. Icelandic theater has become better, interest in theater is increasing and there is much more life and excitement in the theater world. "

Star couples

The talk goes back to the theatrical process. Many people have pointed out the relationship between Rúnar Freyr and Selma and compared them to star couples. Is the theater world trying to turn Selma and Rúnar into the star couple of theater life?

"No, on the contrary. I think I was chosen for the role of Don because of my own merits and Selma got her role as well because of her own talents. "

But what about a couple living and working together? Playing even in the same plays? Is there competition between them?

"No, not at all. It works well to coordinate the two.

Of course, it goes without saying that we talk a lot about the theater and the singing outside of work, "he says and emphasizes that they try above all to work together.

To dream a role

Rúnar Freyr started working at the National Theater at the beginning of last year and says he is satisfied with the work ethic and project selection. Before enrolling in the Icelandic Academy of Drama, however, he had also been involved in theater life in upper secondary school. He played Bugsy Malone in his first year at Versló (Commercial College of Iceland) and later staged the musical Tommy at the same school. When Rúnar Freyr had come a long way in his studies at the Drama School, he then played in Danny Zuko in Grease with great popularity, but in total over seventy performances were shown. It could be assumed from this list that musicals were a special favorite. Is he not afraid to get caught up in the musical roll?

"No, no. I have already done various other things and acted in very different works that have little to do with musicals. I don't think it's possible to define actors by the way they act. A good actor can handle any type of work. He can play both the hero and the fool. "But isn't it difficult to play in many works at the same time? Isn't there a risk of confusing roles?

"Of course, you have to be careful. I especially think this applies to younger actors who are gaining ground on the list. You don't throw away the role when you come home in the evening, "says Rúnar Freyr, but says he doesn’t recognize that he has stuck in the role of a character he has played.

"If I dream of the role before the premiere, it's a good idea." -KGP

#stefan karl stefansson #stefan karl #stefán karl stefánsson #Stefán Karl #2001 #rúnar freyr gíslason #singin' in the rain (2001)#a midsummer night's dream (1999)#birdy (2000)

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introvertguide · 4 years

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952); AFI #5

The next movie on the AFI list is perhaps the most popular musical in American Film, Singin in the Rain (1952). This film is far and away the highest ranked musical on the AFI list. It is a comedy set in early Hollywood when movies switched from silent to having sound. A lot of actors were suddenly exposed as talentless with a pretty face and the old vaudeville performers suddenly regained popularity. A film that didn’t hold any punches as to the difficulty Hollywood had with understanding this new aspect of movie media, this is definitely worth checking out. I want to go over story details before addressing the behind-the-scenes aspects, so...

SPOILER WARNING! THIS DESCRIPTION COMPLETELY SPOILS THE STORY SO WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST!

At the premiere of his latest film, The Royal Rascal, Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly) tells a gathered crowd an exaggerated version of his life story, including his motto: "Dignity, always dignity." His words are humorously contradicted by flashbacks showing him alongside his best friend Cosmo Brown (Donald O'Connor) working all the undignified jobs involved with acting. He is with his shallow leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen), who turns out be very screachy and stupid. The new movie is a hit and Don leaves with Cosmo to the producer after party when the car breaks down and Don is recognized. To escape from his fans, Don jumps into a passing car driven by Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds). She drops him off, but not before claiming to be a stage actress and sneering at his "undignified" accomplishments as a movie star.

At a party, the head of the studio, R.F. Simpson (Millard Mitchell), shows a short demonstration of a talking picture, but his guests are unimpressed. To Don's amusement, Kathy pops out of a mock cake right in front of him, revealing herself to be a chorus girl. Furious at Don's teasing, she throws a real cake at him, only to accidentally hit Lina in the face. She runs away. Don is smitten with Kathy and searches for her for weeks. While filming a love scene, Lina tells him that she had Kathy fired. Don finally finds Kathy working in another Monumental Pictures production. She confesses to having been a fan of his all along.

After a rival studio has an enormous hit with its first talking picture, the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, R.F. decides he has no choice but to convert the next Lockwood and Lamont film, The Dueling Cavalier, into a talkie. The production is beset with difficulties, including Lina's grating voice and strong New York accent. An exasperated diction coach tries to teach her how to speak properly, but to no avail. Don is also given diction lessons which turns in a great tap number with Cosmo to Moses Supposes. The Dueling Cavalier's preview screening is a disaster; the actors are barely audible thanks to the awkward placing of the microphones, Don repeats the line "I love you" to Lina over and over, to the audience's derisive laughter, and in the middle of the film, the sound goes out of synchronization, with hilarious results as Lina shakes her head while the villain's deep voice says, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" and the villain nods his head while Lina's squeaky soprano says, "No! No! No!"

Don, Kathy, and Cosmo come up with the idea to turn The Dueling Cavalier into a musical called The Dancing Cavalier, complete with a modern musical number called "Broadway Melody". The three are disheartened when they realize Lina's terrible voice remains a problem, but Cosmo, inspired by a scene in The Dueling Cavalier where Lina's voice was out of sync, suggests that they dub Lina's voice with Kathy's. R.F. approves the idea but tells them not to inform Lina about the dubbing. When Lina finds out, she is infuriated. She becomes even angrier when she discovers that R.F. intends to give Kathy a screen credit and a big publicity buildup afterward. Lina threatens to sue R.F. unless he orders Kathy to continue working uncredited as Lina's voice. R.F. reluctantly agrees to her demands, as a clause in her contract states that the studio is responsible for media coverage of her and she can sue if she is not happy with it.

The premiere of The Dancing Cavalier is a tremendous success. When the audience clamors for Lina to sing live, Don, Cosmo, and R.F. tell her to lip sync into the microphone while Kathy, concealed behind the curtain, sings into a second one. While Lina is "singing", Don, Cosmo, and R.F. gleefully raise the curtain, revealing the fakery. Lina flees. A distressed Kathy tries to run away as well, but Don proudly announces to the audience that she's "the real star" of the film. Later, Kathy and Don kiss in front of a billboard for their new film, Singin' in the Rain.

I really enjoy the movie, but I have to admit a couple things that I have noticed over the years on different viewings. One thing is that the acting is not very good. It is all very hokey and I like to believe that this was done on purpose, but I have seen other productions from these actors and the acting from all three is pretty similar. Another thing is that the pitch for the “modern number” that turns out to be the Broadway Melody was just shoved in for timing reasons and it comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. I noticed that Rita Morena is in this film and she is a complete triple threat, but a 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds got the lead.

There are some very well known behind the scenes trivia notes that are pretty general knowledge to American movie fans, but I will go over a couple things. The Singin’ in the Rain number was set up but Gene Kelly was very sick with a fever so he did a practice take and went home. They continued filming the next couple of days but most of what is in the movie came from that initial sick take with fill shots from the other takes.

Debbie Reynolds was not a dancer or a singer, but a gymnast. She had to be taught how to dance and you can see in her face how hard she is trying. Strangely, the speaking that she put in for Lina Lamont was actually the actress Jean Hagen (who played Lamont and was nominated for best supporting actress) who did not have that high pitch voice but a deep smoky voice. The singing that was dubbed over was not Reynolds either, but a professional singer named Betty Noyes.

The film had a lot of difficulties as takes had to be redone because the crew did not really know what they were doing. There were episodes where the mic was poorly placed on the actor’s body (Debbie Reynolds) and there was difficulty getting clean takes, including an episode when the mic picked up her heartbeat. Donald O’Connor had to do the Make Em’ Laugh number twice because the cinematographer left the lens aperture open and the film fogged over. A lot of numbers actually had to be redone because of a fire.

None of the other actors in this film ever reported working with Gene Kelly as a positive experience. Kelly had a very high standard and a very specific style which could be difficult as Reynolds was not a dancer. Kelly also had just come off of filming the previous year’s best picture, An American in Paris, and really wanted the movie to do just as well. He was mean to Reynolds and made her cry. He also had her do the Good Morning number over and over until vessels broke in her feet and she started to bleed all over the stage. O’Connor did not like the way the Kelly pushed around the other actors and referred to Kelly as an aggressive control freak. Gene Kelly admitted later to being far too hard on his fellow actors during this filming and both O’Connor and Reynolds forgave him suggesting it was a learning experience. It still sounds like pretty awful working conditions to me (edited)

Only two of the songs in the film were original for the movie, Moses Supposes and Make Em Laugh, although the former was based on a children’s rhyme and the latter was very similar to Be A Clown by Irving Berlin. This was actually the seventh movie that had Singin’ in the Rain as a feature song. It seemed like an homage to the popularity of the Follies in the 1920′s, using all of the popular notes of the year to commemorate the past.

So should this film be on the AFI List? Absolutely, although I don’t know if I would have put it in the top 5. It is a lot of fun, it is very well known, it is still mentioned frequently in current popular media, and the actors really put a lot into the production. However, I wouldn’t put it above movies like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. That is a little much. And would I recommend it? Of course! This movie is a lot of fun and one of those movies that the pace pulls you through without ever needing to check the time. The dancing is fabulous and the show of the misunderstanding of sound in movies by the characters is truly hilarious. It is 100% certified fresh an Rotten Tomatoes and I completely agree.

#singin in the rain #Gene Kelly #debbie reynolds #donald o'connor #musical #afi movies #make em laugh #film review #rotten tomatoes #comedy #silent film #50s #hollywood golden age #introvert #introverts

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nossbean · 4 years

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Shipping post game

Rules: tag 9 people you’d like to know better.

I was tagged by @cytarabi (and, eta, @ilikeblue!) thanks so much! I’m not sure who’s already played and I know this has been going around for a few days, so soz if I’m re-tagging you! If you’ve got time and inclination: @amuserobin , @djeli-beybi , @anniegetyourbubblegum , @beesreadbooks , @ronordmann , @queenbookwench , @klingofff , @brienne , @forbiddenfantasies1 , @ilikblue and honestly anyone else who wants to play, please consider yourself tagged! Would love to see your responses <3

Top 3 ships

1. Cosmo x Don x Kathy from Singin’ in the Rain

This movie is so poly, it’s wonderful. My intro to Good Morning was actually thru a viagra ad that played all the time in Canada in the 90s? early 2000s? Anyway point is I cackled all the way through this song the first time I watched the film in my late 20s. Also none can convince me Moses Supposes isn’t just foreplay via singing & dance. Also also in the original script, the film ended on an OT3 scene, and that is how it ends in my heart of hearts.

2. Lara Croft x happiness

My murder wife. I feel like happiness is ... very far from her, particularly since Square Enix are cowards who took away her girlfriend. BUT WHO KNOWS. MAYBE ONE DAY.

Also in searching for that gif, I found this one and was distracted. thx u, alicia vikander, 4 ur service

3. Brienne x Jaime ofc

Honestly............................... I mean, just honestly. I don’t know how I ended up here. So. Real talk: I didn’t even watch GOT because i am a delicate flower and all the violence (specifically misogyny, and, frankly, the incest) was just too much for me. I had been aware of JB: a couple of past fandom humans I kept an eye on love them, and I’m interested in beauty and the beast retellings so I was interested from afar. So I ended up fandom osmosis’ing most of JB’s key points in the show and the books over the years and had vaguely thought about picking up the books once GRRM published the final two novels (which, lol). I remember Jaime staring lovingly at a land mass with related discussion of his disaster human status, and a meta about Brienne’s likely romance arc in the books rattles around in my head still. Anyway, fast forward to 2019: the knighting scene went viral (as well it should), and my pal sent me rambling excited emails the next day about 802 (she also v much ships AryaxGendry, so double joy. Until two weeks later and her emails went decidedly in the other direction...) Then I clicked a random fic that crossed my radar and... I fell down a hole and here I am. tl;dr they deserve happiness and each other. It’s just facts. A truth universally acknowledged. etc, etc, ad infinitum.

Last song you listened to: Glory & Gore by Lorde

Last movie you watched: uhh... I’m not actually 100% sure. Possibly Clueless? Possibly Thor: Ragnarok? My viewing has mostly been TV lately!

Reading: fic, lots of fic. I’ve just sent myself Battleborn by catherineflowers to start tonight.

Last thing you ate: a piece of carrot cake which was tragically too sweet and too crumbly

#play with me tag #i spent a lot of time on this when i meant to write fic

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cabramovici-blog · 5 years

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

In Mary Ann Doane’s piece, “Ideology and the Practice of Sound Editing and Mixing,” she talks about how sound is usually overlooked and under-analyzed when compared with image. Without sound, certain underlying meanings would not come across in films. Sound supports the image in films and they work together to further carry out the plot and themes present in a film. In the movie, Singin’ in the Rain, sound and film can be seen working together to create deeper meaning in the scene when Don sings to Kathy on a sound stage with the sunset background. If Don had just told Kathy how he felt without the background of the sunset, the music, as well as other props it would not have gotten the message of how he felt about her across as well. Doane states in her piece, “the frequency with which ‘mood’ or ‘atmosphere’ appear in the discourse of sound technicians testifies to the significance of this other truth” (55). This other truth that Doane refers to is how important sound is in regards to creating mood or atmosphere in film. Without the romantic music, the sound of the wind, or the echo of all the machines/lights being turned on the same mood would not have been achieved. By being able to hear the flicker of the machines and lights being turned on and the sound of the characters’ footsteps it illustrates how empty the set is, further showing that this is a private, intimate moment.

#filmsound #swampfilmanalysis

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pixiegrl · 3 years

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I'm late but can I hear about on my way to wonderland, singing in the rain au and the omegavers?

~no clue who

Hello darling nice to see you I hope youre good!

On my way to wonderland was mentioned here: but its basically, n Alice in wonderland inspired AU where luke gets stuck in wonderland and ashton michael and calum all play the parts of the chesire cat, mad hatter and march hare. Luke wants to stay in wonderland and then decides he wants to go back to his friends and his life because he gets freaked OR 2) Iuke going to fairie world and getting stuck and having to leave, classic story. havent figured out which direction itll end up in

Singin in the rain au: Malum focused, based on the singin in the rain movie, it takes place in old hollywood. Calum plays the part of Don, a popular actor. Luke plays the part of his co-star & love interest, except he's less of a bitch/antagonist and more just a diva friend (or he's the costume designer, idk). Ashton plays the part of Cosmo, Calum's musician friend. When a new actor threatens Luke's part of love interest and Calum's acting career, they end up finding, Michael, who plays the part of kathy, an aspiring actor. Ashton, calum, luke try to train michael on the art of acting, while convincing luke he's more than a pretty face, and malum fall in love while Lashton admit theyre probably dating. The doc for it mocks me

Omegaverse: oh boy where do I start. This is the product of Nik and I talking about how much we love omgeaverse and I was inspired by an old pacific rim omegaverse werewolf fic. Basically, the boys are werewolves. Luke is the only omega wolf in the band (meaning he can get pregnant in wolf form and he has a womb) and Ashton is an alpha. They have an encounter as wolves that ends with Luke pregnant. Ashton offers to move in with Luke and care for him while he's pregnant, since this is his baby. It heavily explores Lashton's relationship as friends to lovers and dads, pack dynamics since theyre not mated and the band isnt offically "pack" and luke's feelings of being "not enough" due to how "un-omega like" he is. its a slow slow burn thats at 10k rn

#asks #anon #no clue who #omegaverse is somehow becoming my new fic thing #god I forgot about SITR until this game

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eugene-my-love · 6 years

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@mostlydaydreaming. we were limited to the number of pages we could write. i could have gone on for so much longer

This is my argument paper from writing 2 I took in the spring. Enjoy!!

Singin’ in the Rain:

Putting Smiles on Faces for More than 60 Years

Kandace Feorene

“I like old movies too! My favorite oldie is Pulp Fiction/Forrest Gump.” These are the words every classic film lover despises. My blood boils every time I hear similar phrases. The bubbling is new, yes, I will admit that, but it is genuine. I got into classic movies in July of last year, and I hope I never see the light at the end of this sometimes black and white, sometimes silent tunnel. Movies have been around for over 100 years, and the golden age of them is just that, golden! It started when the talkies were introduced in 1927, and there was no stopping them from there. That is of course until television came along and put an end to it slowly but surely (but let’s not open up that wound). Yes, films still have a significant role in today’s world, but the 30s, 40s, and early 50s were special to the industry. The studio system was roaring as though it would never end. Great characters who deliver beautiful words were the focus in the movies. Good stories were prominent because they couldn’t blow up buildings. The movie musical was big and beautiful being filmed on huge studio lots. There were many made in the golden era of Hollywood, but the best musical and movie ever made is Singin’ in the Rain.

If you’ve never seen it, get a hold of it as soon as possible and watch it. Make sure there are no distractions around. Tell people around you to be quiet. This masterpiece demands your undivided attention. Also, if you haven’t seen it, the title is referencing the title number. I would agree that not all old movies are accessible to most audiences. Some are slow and boring, as are some today. But Singin’ in the Rain is the best example of how people can enjoy movies that are over 60 years old. It is a classic in the true sense of the word.

Singin’ in the Rain was released in 1952 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and is number one on the American Film Institute’s (AFI’s) list of Greatest Movie Musicals of all Time (American Film Institute, 2006) and number five on their list of 100 Greatest American Films of All Time (American Film Institute, 2007). It was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1989 (its first year) for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” (Library of Congress). Starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, with supporting cast members Jean Hagen, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role as the screeching star, and Millard Mitchell, the plot is simple: “talkies” are introduced into Hollywood, and a fictional silent film production company (Monumental Pictures) must convert. Their problem is Lina Lamont, a gorgeous star whose voice rivals nails on a chalkboard. Laughs ensue as producer R. F. Simpson tries to hold on to Lina’s star status through filming her first talking picture, The Dueling Cavalier. Monumental Pictures replaces Lina’s voice with Kathy’s. Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds was 19 while filming Kathy Selden’s journey from, in the words of Don Lockwood, “humble player” to star. Life imitated art after the picture was released, because Singin’ was Reynold’s breakout role.

Classics are hard to define, but easy to recognize. Singin’ in the Rain is, obviously, also the best classic movie ever made. The title number is often regarded as the most recognized dance sequence in all of film. Audiences appreciate it even more when they learn that Kelly had a fever of 103 while filming it (Ward Kelly, 2016). The script is unlike most musicals. The lines are witty and smart. One of my favorites is when a member of the publicity department says “Lina, you’re a beautiful woman—audiences think you’ve got the voice to match. The studio’s got to keep their stars from looking ridiculous at any cost.” O’Connor’s character responds with “No one’s got that much money” (Comden and Green). There is a story, and it interests the audience. Most musicals just have some scenes in between numbers that distract from the singing and dancing, but the scenes and numbers combine beautifully to create the perfect film that never skips a beat. The story is also educational. Writers Betty “Comden and her long-time writing partner, Adolf Green, interviewed washed-up silent film actors, read old magazines and viewed archival films during their writing process” (Laffel, 1992). So, the comical situations throughout the movie are true on top of hilarious. Jean Hagen’s comedic timing is gold. Similarly, Donald O’Connor’s, who won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, humor is never distracting from the story. His iconic Make ‘Em laugh number makes audiences of all ages light up. The 17-minute Broadway Melody number is a sight to behold. The colors are bright and exciting. The sets provide for lavish sequences. Each dance number, choreographed and staged by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is special in its own right and doesn’t let you take your eyes off the screen. “Each draws from a different technical and aesthetic base: the traditions of lyrical ballet, modern dance, theatrical dancing, exaggeratedly hackneyed tap, familiar social dances, Euro-western folk steps, and a light feathery tap style form an elaborate grammar, the breadth and mastery of which was unique to dance” (La Pointe-Crump, 2004, 66). Kelly and O’Connor’s tap sequence Moses Supposes is very often regarded as the best tap number on film. Singin’ created a star out of Reynolds. She had no previous dancing experience, so Kelly had to teach her from scratch. She was a gymnast, so she knew a little bit about physically working hard, but dance is a whole other ballgame when it comes to technique. Future EGOT recipient Rita Moreno was also a player in the film’s success playing the “Zip Girl of the screen” Zelda Zanders (Comden & Green). Its influence is startling. Let’s take me, a pessimist. I want to sing in the rain now. A self-proclaimed pessimist is happy when it rains because I can play the song and sing along to the greatest classic film ever made.

I am not the only one in the world who has been impacted significantly by this glorious movie. I have met others online who share my thoughts. We talk occasionally, and they were nice enough to give me quotes on their thoughts on the film. Sherrie (2018) perfectly summarizes why people should watch it:

“I think it is the perfect introduction to movie musicals. It’s the first time I really appreciated all the time and skill that went into them. Most modern type musicals are mostly sung (and many auto-tuned) with maybe a few simple dance steps put in. Singin’ in the Rain is just a showcase of “triple threat” performers tied together by a brilliantly written script managing to combine heart and humor without being dated. The supporting characters are solid and memorable. The musical numbers are so well put together sometimes I’ll just watch them back to back and marvel at how all these came from the same movie. This coming from someone who, with a few exceptions, didn’t even like most old movie musicals.”

Sherrie mentions the most amazing feat of this film: the fact that there are so many iconic numbers. Almost all of them are extremely recognizable to people. The title number is the obvious one. It is the most recognizable dance number in all of film, and for good reason. Kelly exudes joy and love, and even though the steps are some of the easiest for a skilled dancer, he makes each special with a different splash in a puddle or shrug of his shoulders. My other friend Lena (2018) explains a concept that is talked about a lot with Singin’:

“It’s special to me because it was my first introduction to Old Hollywood movies. My family is full of movie buffs, and Old Hollywood movies are a staple for references we all make. When I was ten, my mom told me she thought I was old enough to appreciate it. I don’t think I’d ever laughed so hard at a movie up until that point! The colors, the music, the humor, the romance, it all got to me! Its quality and story still hold up to this day! And it stuck because Old Hollywood is a huge part of my life now, and it’s all because of Singin’ in the Rain!”

If you were to ask people what their first Old Hollywood movie was, a good amount would say Singin’ in the Rain. I showed the film to my best friend a couple of months ago (it was her first Old Hollywood film too) even though she insisted on not watching it. When it was over, she just stared at the screen and apologized to me for saying she did not want to try it. It really is the perfect combination of most genres. There is humor, romance, drama, singing, dancing, and even a little bit of action! If you want to start watching classic films, there is no better movie to introduce you to them while meeting your needs of different movie genres.

The film earns the title of best picture ever made for not just what you see on film, but for the dedication that went on behind the camera as well. The film was directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, and the witty screenplay was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who were legends in their field. Singin’ was Kelly’s second directing venture. He and Donen directed On the Town in 1949, which was a huge success. MGM was happy to see the two team up again since On the Town resulted in a healthy profit. Kelly was involved in practically every aspect of filming. Rita Moreno (2013) remembers filming, "I visited the set every single day. I did maybe, oh, a week and a half's worth of work on that show. But I visited all the sets every single day.” She only had a few scenes, so she could spend her time observing a legend creating his masterpiece. Kelly even had input in the wardrobe. For the iconic Broadway Melody sequence, he cheated the despised Hays Code, which was the code movies had to follow so films were family friendly. He told the wardrobe department to put slits in Cyd Charisse’s bright green flapper dress because a dancer’s lines should be seen (Ward Kelly, 2016). The slits disobeyed the Hayes Code’s rules on how short a dress can be, but since the material met the requirements, the censors couldn’t touch it. It is worth noting that Charisse had given birth just a few months before shooting her scenes. Kelly’s directing style was unique. He wanted the camera to dance along with the dancers, so the audience didn’t miss a single move. This is evident in Kelly’s part in Broadway Melody before he dances with Charisse. As an audience member, you feel as though you are dancing with him. Kelly’s service in the photographic unit in the Navy gave him the opportunity to explore the filmmaking process. Before the Navy, he was mostly interested in choreography, but after leaving the service, his interests in the movie making process as a whole grew. The Broadway Melody sequence is 14 minutes long. The studio had no problem with the number, since Kelly’s An American in Paris won best picture the year before. An American in Paris had a 17-minute-long ballet sequence, also directed by Kelly, that is also spectacular and should be watched by everyone. Kelly wanted Donald O’Connor for the part of Cosmo Brown. Rita Moreno (2014) said she once told Kelly, “I hope finally people will recognize what a great talent this man is, and he said that’s precisely why I had him in the film.” For his solo number, the film was lost so he had to do the whole energetic sequence again. Since he smoked many packs a day, he had to rest for a few days because the tricks took so much out of him.

This film has brought so much happiness into my life, and I know it will do so for others. If you are sad, the song, dances, and jokes will bring out of your slump. If you are happy, it will enhance your mood. Adolph Green once said, "You know what's wonderful. To be somewhere strange in a foreign country where no one knows you and to be introduced as the people who wrote Singin' in the Rain and to watch the people smile. It's a favorite film the world over. There and here people are always telling us that the family sits together to watch it” (as cited in Laffel, 1992). This quote was from the 90s, but it is due to this day. The dialogue, performances, music, and moves make Singin’ in the Rain the greatest motion picture of all time.

#mine

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asroarke · 6 years

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Drunk Alex, how would you describe the plot of your favorite movie?

OKAY. So DON LOCKWOOD is a hot af actor who has this fake relationship going on with this bitch named lina. WE HATE HER LIKE IMMEDIATELY. but they keep it up for the FANS. also side note, they do silent pictures together, which means none of the dumb fans realize just HOW ANNOYING she is (in all honesty, i kind of love her… like i love to hate her… BUT WE HATE HER)

anyways, a few boring convos later, talking pictures become hella popular and everyone is like WTF DO WE DO WE CANT LET THE PEOPLE HEAR LINA SPEAK OUT LOUD. oh meanwhile, don is secretly dating a young debbie reynolds (love of my life) but her name is kathy. their romance is kind of an adorable slow burn. like they low key hated each other BUT THEN NOT ANYMORE BAM LOVE.

anyways a lot of plot and musical numbers later, and they’re still like WTF DO WE DO ABOUT LINA HER VOICE IS TERRIBLE. then his best bud Cosmo tap dances his way to a solution and theyre like omg lets fake it. USE KATHY’S BEAUTIFUL VOICE AND PRETEND IT’S LINA. also don kisses kathy and like loses his shit over it because hes in love with her and THEN HE STARTS LITERALLY SINGING IN THE RAIN BECAUSE HOLY FUCK ENEMIES TO FRIENDS TO LOVERS HE FUCKING LOVES HER.

but lina… who we love to hate… RUINS IT. refuses to let the public know that she can’t sing. they throw in the MOST overdone musical number that makes no sense in the plot of the movie they’re throwing together. HONESTLY I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE FUCK THAT MOVIE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT. ITS JUST A MUSICAL THAT FEATURES A COMPLEX TEN MINUTE DANCE AND SINGING NUMBER THAT COVERS MULTIPLE GENRES AND THEN IT HAS A DREAM SEQUENCE WHERE LINA SINGS BEAUTIFULLY TO HIM. anyways, plot plot plot, and then the audience at the premiere is like SING FOR US LINA. so they get kathy (who is being a really good sport all things considered) to stand backstage and sing while lina lipsings. BUT GENE KELLY THE SLY BASTARD DROPS THE CURTAIN SO EVERYONE SEES THAT IT WAS REALLY KATHY ALL ALONG. IT WAS ALWAAAAAAYS KATHY. lina runs off in disgrace, kathy and don make out a bit. i probs should have known i was bi about halfway through watching this movie, since i have unresolved feelings toward gene kelly and jean hagen…

that’s the plot of singin’ in the rain… i think i forgot to say that earlier

#asks #drunk asks #drunk me unapologetically loves this movie #it might be on right now #ok it is #DEEBBIEEE REYNOLDS COME BAAAACK

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review-that-film · 7 years

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Singin’ in the Rain Summary

Singin’ in the Rain is without a doubt my favourite musical. From the first time my parents put it on I was hooked – the warm characters, great songs and outstanding choreography are what makes this film one of the greats of all time. It’s had me singing and dancing every time I watch it, which to be fair is quite an easy thing for a film to do, but none do it quite in the style that is Singin’ in the Rain. Singin’ in the Rain is set during the Golden Age of cinema. We see the transition from silent film to the talkies and how a film company copes with the new technology.

Our film’s leading trio are a great combination of characters. We have Don, a successful silent movie star who thinks, at the beginning, a little too much of himself. Gene Kelly was a fantastic choice for the role and I couldn’t imagine anyone else playing our hero. Not only did Gene act in the film, but he co-directed and co-choreographed it brilliantly. Next we have Don’s childhood best friend, Cosmo. Cosmo is a very talented musician and we can see from the outset that they have the sort of friendship everyone wishes they had. They have been through everything together and even with Don’s rise to fame their friendship has endured. Donald O’Connor’s comedic timing is superb and I always find myself waiting for his next great comment, which after countless times of watching this film, I still find very funny. Last, but not least, we have the lovely Debbie Reynolds who plays Kathy, our heroine. She is an aspiring actress who can sing and dance. We aren’t introduced to her until a little bit into the film but when we do we can tell she is a strong person who isn’t going to be swept up into the craze about Don. Our trio were truly very talented and play their roles brilliantly, with Donald and Debbie holding their own against the fantastic Gene Kelly. Interactions between these three characters are always great and their rendition of “Good Mornin’” is fantastic.

Singin’ in the Rain is a timeless classic that the whole family will enjoy. The music is great, there is amazing dancing and a heart warming story line. For me it is one of those films that I can watch over and over again and still enjoy it as though it is my first time watching it. I would recommend everyone to watch it, even if you’re not a fan of musicals, it may just change your mind.

#singin in the rain #film summary #Film Review #gene kelly #donald o'connor #debbie reynolds

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stephtastrophe · 7 years

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I finally watched Singin’ in the Rain today and it was really amazing. I’ve seen bits of it before and knew most of the songs somehow lol but never seen it all the way through I don’t think and have wanted to for ages but I kept missing it on TV, so when I saw it on TCM HD the other day, quite by accident, a few hours before it was due to start so I put it on record.

It was a really great musical, the songs were all wonderful and the plot was interesting too. A movie about them making a movie and then completely changing it, Don falling in love with an up and coming actress who originally said he wasn’t really an actor after trying to find her for ages, Lina thinking Don loved her and having a horrible voice which was dubbed by Kathy. It was funny when she talked with her real voice and then had Kathy dub her singing and they raised the curtain at the end to show it wasn’t her and then Cosmo did it too lol!

It was interesting to see the characters move from silent movies to the talkies and how it worked out, of course there was a lot of trouble at first. The mishaps were quite funny.

I loved all the songs and dance sequences, they were all so awesome! <3

Gene Kelly was simply amazing in it, as he is in everything that I’ve seen him in. He’s such a great singer, dancer and actor! He was also handsome as usual in it!

Donald O’Connor was funny as Cosmo, although Gene Kelly was funny at times too. I thought he looked familiar but maybe it was just from seeing bits of this before as I couldn’t see any movies I don’t think I’d seen before on IMDb.

Debbie Reynolds was also really amazing in it! I loved her singing in it.

Jean Hagen was also really good and quite funny really.

I’m glad I finally got to see such a classic movie properly! It did not disappoint!

Although it ended a bit more suddenly than I expected lol. But then again I guess the plot was finished by that point lol.

Gene Kelly <3

#singin' in the rain #gene kelly #debbie reynolds #donald o'connor #jean hagen

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justanothercinemaniac · 7 years

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Epic Movie (Re)Watch #140 - Singin’ in the Rain

Spoilers below

Have I seen it before: Yes

Did I like it then: Yes.

Do I remember it: Yes.

Did I see it in theaters: No.

Format: Blu-ray

This post is dedicated to @hyla-brook, as I can no longer watch this movie without thinking of my friend.

1) This film is not only one of the best movie musicals of all time, but one of the best movies of all time period. More on that coming up.

2) The opening credits include the line, “Suggested by the song...” In fact, the entire film was written AFTER the songs with only two exceptions (“Moses” and “Make ‘Em Laugh”), with all the other songs already being released and known to the world at the time. This effectively makes Singin’ in the Rain one of the earliest karaoke musicals (alá Rock of Ages), but today the songs are known largely if not exclusively because of the long lasting popularity of this film.

3) The backstory given by Don (Gene Kelly) is a wonderful opening to the film for almost countless reasons.

youtube

For one, we get a strong establishment of the friendship and loyalty which exists between Don and Cosmo (Donald O’Connor) as relationship as important to the film as Don’s love with Kathy. We also get a clear establishment of the film’s sense of humor, giving us a nice juxtaposition of expectations vs reality (“Dignity, always dignity.”) and incredible slapstick moments. It is also one of the most accurate portrayals of how someone finds success in Hollywood: through an endless stream of shit jobs in the hopes that you’ll be noticed. Kelly’s and O’Connor’s comedic brilliance are on full display, and we also get our fist inkling of the tumultuous relationships between Don and Lina.

Don [after he gets a lead in a movie, to Lina who was a jerk before]: “Are you doing anything tonight, Ms. Lamont? [She shakes her head no.] That’s funny...I’m busy.”

4) In case you ever think Hollywood making normal people feel self conscious about themselves is a modern invention:

Female Movie Patron [while Lina is onscreen]: “She’s so refined. I think I’ll kill myself.”

(GIF originally posted by @casey-jones)

5) Lina Lamont.

Lina’s character is established immediately from the second she opens her mouth: drunk on power, more than a bit of a moron, and a selfish jerk. She’s hysterical and Jean Hagen totally loses herself in the character. No, that’s not Hagen’s normal speaking voice, but you thought it didn’t you? That’s how incredible she is in the role, and it is easy to forget how much brilliance she shows off when compared to the trio of Kelly, O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. This film wouldn’t be nearly the classic it is without Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont.

6) In case there was any question: I am Cosmo.

Studio Rep [about Lina]: “The studio has to keep their stars from looking ridiculous at any cost.”

Don: “No one’s got that much money.”

7) There are going to be so many Cosmo quotes in this recap, I’m just warning you. Because, you know, I’m Cosmo basically.

Don [being swarmed by fans]: “Hey Cos, do something! Call me a cab!”

Cosmo: “Okay, you’re a cab!”

8) Debbie Reynolds as Kathy Seldon.

What on earth can I say about one of the greatest actresses of all time in only her fourth credited screen real knocking it out of the park? I honestly don’t know but I’ll try to figure it out as I type. Reynolds is...perfection. In a trio of incredible performances I think she may give the strongest. Her chemistry with Kelly is great, subtle, trusting, and she does just such a wonderful job of making Kathy an amazing character. She’s not some manic pixie dream girl. She has her own desires, her own dreams, her own sacrifices she’s willing to make. Reynolds is able to portray Kathy as honestly good while still remaining interesting, honestly optimistic without being too naive or annoying, and honesty is just the word to apply to Reynolds’ whole work in the film. I love it.

9) One of the things I LOVE about this film is that Don and Kathy are not a “love at first sight” type of relationship. Don’s hitting on her is obviously because he’s a cad, she shuts him down, and then they’re able to have this unique conflict with each other where they both sort of act like jerks. Yet later they develop an honest connection with and affection for each other in such little time, it speaks greatly to the chemistry of the performers. One of my favorite love stories from this era of cinema.

10) The advent of the talkies are captured pretty accurately in this film. Everyone is skeptical about it, thinks it’ll be a fad, but the few likes Cosmo and studio head RF Simpson see how it could (and probably will be) the future.

11) I don’t think there is a better showcase for Donald O’Connor’s skills as a physical comedian than in “Make ‘Em Laugh”.

According to IMDb:

Donald O'Connor recalled, "I was smoking four packs of cigarettes a day then, and getting up those walls was murder. They had to bank one wall so I could make it up and then through another wall. We filmed that whole sequence in one day. We did it on a concrete floor. My body just had to absorb this tremendous shock. Things were building to such a crescendo that I thought I'd have to commit suicide for the ending. I came back on the set three days later. All the grips applauded. [Gene Kelly] applauded, told me what a great number it was. Then Gene said, "Do you think you could do that number again?" I said, "Sure, any time". He said, "Well, we're going to have to do it again tomorrow". No one had checked the aperture of the camera and they fogged out all the film. So the next day I did it again! By the end my feet and ankles were a mass of bruises."

The entire number is just packed full of classic Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton style gags all done to a fast pace number and it gets to the reason this old school movie musical has lasted the test of time where others have failed:

Most old school movie musicals have songs which don’t serve the film AT ALL they could be totally skipped and nothing would change. In some respects this film is the same. HOWEVER: the numbers are just so wildly and fantastically fun and entertaining that you are never bored by watching them. You are just so focused on what is going on and enjoying it so damn much you wouldn’t dream of skipping it (for the most part). THAT is why this film is such a classic. THAT is why it stands the test of time.

12)

RF [after pitching a talkie to Don]: “Lockwood and Lamont! They talk!”

Lina: “Of course we talk! Don’t everybody?”

Man RF, you did NOT think that through.

13) For me, “Beautiful Girls” is always the number I want to skip. It just is not nearly as entertaining as some of the other ones. It does nothing for me.

(GIF source unknown [if this is your GIF please let me know].)

14) Be still my beating heart.

Don: “Kathy I’m trying to say something to you but I’m such a ham. I guess I’m unable to without the proper setting.”

My heart doesn’t get mushy romantic for much, but "You Were Meant For Me”...It is just so beautifully staged, the lighting and setting is incredible, and Kelly is able to portray such honest emotion in the song that...I LOVE IT!

15) “Moses” is another example of a number which really doesn’t serve the plot in anyway but is just so damn entertaining I don’t really care! Donald O’Connor is great again, and we get some nice bromantic fun!

16) We get like a solid ten minutes of this film’s excellent comedy in two back to back scenes: when the filmmakers are trying to deal with the sound equipment, and when they see just how poorly it worked in the final film. It’s accurate really to today too: audiences will forgive crappy visuals but if your sound is shit then your film is shit. I know this because I’ve directed a number of films with shit sound (most of them back in high school).

17) Don’s conflict is perfectly summed up in one line:

Don: “The picture’s a museum piece. I’m a museum piece.”

The film’s mostly a musical comedy so it’s easy to forget about Don’s conflict, but he’s an actor in a changing industry and his first encounter with Kathy had him questioning his skills. Everything he does for the movies in this film is driven by that issue.

18) “Good Morning”.

Another song which is totally superfluous and serves the plot in no real way, I totally love it. It shows the trio at their best together in a wildly fun and entertaining number. But it was a pain to shoot!

After they finished the "Good Morning" number, Debbie Reynolds had to be carried to her dressing room because she had burst some blood vessels in her feet. Despite her hard work on the "Good Morning" number, Gene Kelly decided that someone should dub her tap sounds, so he went into a dubbing room to dub the sound of her feet as well as his own.

During a TV interview Debbie Reynolds shared while filming "Good Morning" one of her feet was bleeding, requiring flesh-colored bandages beneath her hose. As the trio collapsed on the overturned sofa, she turned her head to Donald O'Connor and said, "Thank God that's over." Watch closely and you can see her say it during the dubbed jolly laughter.

Their effort yielded one of the best numbers in the film!

19) The iconic titular song/number: “Singin’ in the Rain”.

Pretty much everything you need to know about Kelly’s devotion and hardwork in the film can be summed up by this fact:

The "Singing in the Rain" number took all day to set up--and Gene Kelly was very ill (some say with a fever over 101). When it was all set up, Kelly insisted on doing a take--even though the blocking was only rudimentary (starting and ending positions only), and the director was ready to send him home. He ad-libbed most of it and it only took one take, which is what you see on film.

Kelly’s sheer joy and the memorable/simple imagery is what makes the number so iconic. It is truly relatable, and its existence makes walking in the rain just a bit less melancholy.

20) Hey, remember how I’m Cosmo?

RF: “Cosmo, remind me to give you a raise!”

Cosmo: “Oh RF!”

RF: “Yes?”

Cosmo: “Give me a raise.”

21) Okay, “Broadway Melody”...

“Broadway Melody” is THE most superfluous number in the film and honestly the one which could probably be cut. It is very entertaining - and much more engrossing than its equivalent in Kelly’s An American in Paris in my opinion - but it’s just so damn long! It works as it’s own short film. However the visuals are incredibly strong and Kelly is in top form, so it obviously doesn’t ruin the film. But honestly it is the song you are most easy to skip and keep watching.

22) Aww, these two...

Don [to Kathy]: “From now on there’s only one fan I’m worried about.”

23) So far Lina has been a funny antagonistic dunce in the film, but damn if at the end she doesn’t turn into a manipulative evil jerk. I LOVE IT! She shows off she’s smarter than she’s shown [at least a little], boosts her own public image, almost sabotages Kathy’s career, and tries to extort RF into giving her more power. It is the fact she flies so close to the sun which causes her downfall, but damn if she ain’t just EVIL!!!!!

24) According to IMDb:

In the "Would You" number, Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) is dubbing the voice of Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) because Lina's voice is shrill and screechy. However, it's not Reynolds who is really speaking, it's Jean Hagen herself, who actually had a beautiful deep, rich voice. So you have Jean Hagen dubbing Debbie Reynolds dubbing Jean Hagen. And when Debbie is supposedly dubbing Jean's singing of "Would You", the voice you hear singing actually belongs to Betty Noyes, who had a much richer singing voice than Debbie.

25) These three are just so happy to embarrass Lina.

26) Kathy’s teary eyed look at Don when she realizes he WASN’T being a total jerk by having her sing for Lina and in fact letting the whole world know who she is just...be still my heart.

I miss Debbie Reynolds.

Singin’ in the Rain is a classic of cinema. Even though it falls into the trope of songs which don’t advance the plot, the songs are just SO fun to watch! This film is pure entertainment, with great acting on all parts (especially from the trio of Kelly, O’Connor, and Reynolds) and just honest character writing. It’s SO good! Go watch it if you haven’t!

#Singin' in the Rain #Debbie Reynolds #Gene Kelly #Donald O'Connor #Singin in the Rain #Jean Hagen #Epic Movie (Re)Watch #Movie #Film #GIF

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dm5anims-blog · 6 years

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Film Review: Singin’ In The Rain (1952)

Score: 8/10

Singin’ In The Rain was a well-coordinated musical with some memorable songs and entertaining choreographed dance sequences. I enjoyed the plot of the movie, where the characters encounter a problem, and once they solved the problem, they encountered a new problem. I thought this is what makes plots so well driven as story where problems occur after other problems as a result of those problems, it makes the film more entertaining to watch and prevents any chances of it becoming boring. Also, unlike most musicals, this musical film accepted the idea of the musical theme into the plot, so that there was a feeling as to why the characters can all sing so well, unlike films like Annie where some characters who have been shown to have no musical backgrounds can sing as if they have had a lot of practice in their backgrounds; as Don, Kathy and Cosmo have all had training prior to the film, therefore it explains their amazing musical skills. However, one flaw I had with the film was that there were some songs that didn’t feel like they have contributed to the plot or had a reason to be played. Songs like ‘Singin’ In The Rain’, ‘All I Do Is Dream Of You’ and ‘Good Morning’ all felt like they had fit the current scene, since for ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ it was raining when Don Lockwood sang the song, for ‘All I Do Is Dream Of You’ is that all the performers of girls wearing somewhat flirty costumes were performing for people, and ‘Good Morning’ was because it was officially morning when they sang the song; but songs like ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ and ‘Broadway Melody’ just felt like they were put into the scenes, especially ‘Broadway Melody’ felt like it didn’t fit the current story of the characters imagining the final parts of the film that they needed to film, as it didn’t notify that the characters are happy like ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ did. ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ was also a comedy fun song and was also catchy to listen to, however I don’t think it fit the plot of Cosmo trying to cheer up Don about thinking that he’s a bad actor, as the song claims that Don should keep acting and make people laugh, but soon the scene we get afterwards is them acting the “The Dueling Cavalier” which appears to have no relationship to comedy or having Don making people laugh, so I just though songs like these informed the audience of anything or developed the plot.I did enjoy the take on using film’s history as a driving force upon the plot, as it also allowed audiences to understand the problems film artists would suffer from upon the changes from silent films into films with noise, so it made a very unique and interesting plot for the audiences to view.Overall, I do recommend watching this film, as the characters and plot were all entertaining to watch.

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review-that-film · 7 years

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Singin’ in the Rain Review - Spoilers

Singin’ in the Rain is set during the Golden Age of cinema. We see the transition from silent film to the talkies and how a film company copes with the new technology. It is nicely incorporated into the dialogue when the cast are first introduced to the concept of a talking picture, how very few thought it would catch on. This was true for those times, Warner Bros being the first company to take the opportunity to use this new technology and release The Jazz Singer. With that we haven’t looked back since. This 1950’s film lives up to the glitz and glamor of that time brilliantly, with lovely, accurate costumes that make you think twice about which era this film was made in. I particularly like how they showed the era in a comedic way. This is a musical, comedy and romance film.

At the beginning of the film we get a glimpse at the start of the fanatics and stardom culture. It is interesting to see how little we have changed since the 1920s in that respect. We still read tabloids documenting what our favourite celebrities are doing, wearing and saying. There are still huge crowds of screaming fans when big movie stars walk down the red carpet. What is also interesting, what with how easy it is to find information these days, is how oblivious we all still are about the people who work behind the scenes and make the films we love possible. This is shown when Cosmo arrives, the composer for the films, and he is greeted by confused stares.

When Don and Lina, the leading lady of all the silent movies, arrive, they are greeted by cheering fans. The montage of Don reminiscing about how he got to the position he is in is very funny. We get to see what Don and Cosmo did to arrive in LA and get involved in the film industry. The voice over with Don explaining a completely different scenario is great, especially when he keeps re-enforcing his motto of dignity whist he participates in shows that don’t show much dignity for the wanna-be movie star.

We are introduced to Lina but after a while start to wonder why we haven’t heard her talk. As Don keeps interrupting her just as she’s about to speak, it only increases our confusion, and then we hear her and realise why Don has done what he has. Lina (Jean Hagen) is initially portrayed as a ditzy movie star who doesn’t understand what’s going on, she is just enjoying the fame and the love of her fans. We later realise that she is a lot more cunning and prepared to play dirty when she gets Kathy fired and plots to ruin her career as a film star.

It’s about time that I get to the most important parts of this film – the singing and dancing. The songs are up lifting and always bring a smile to my face. Those that are more emotional convey that feeling well but the real triumph are the songs that get you wanting to dance. The only thing that could be annoying about this film is how amazing the dancing is – we can never compete when re-enacting the complex routines at home! Some of the dancing Gene and Donald do is phenomenal, they seem to be floating, not touching the floor, with that grace that dancers have. The dancing works well with all the songs, the majority of which have an instrumental allowing us to fully appreciate this brilliant dancing.

It is very hard for me to pick my favourite song in this film. I always look forward to Donald O’Connor’s “Make ‘Em Laugh”, with great choreography and silly slap stick moments that always bring a smile to my face. I can definitely say that this song has the intended effect of making me laugh. “Good Mornin’” is a fun song and the only one that our trio sing together. The use of the furniture as their dance floor is entertaining and the timing between them is amazing. However, if I had to pick one sequence to watch it would have to be the title song. “Singin’ in the Rain” is amazing. It showcases Gene Kelly’s brilliant dancing and wonderful singing voice, and to think that Gene filmed this while ill with a high temperature just shows what a talent he had. The song is fantastic and makes you want to get up to sing and dance. It’s a very heart warming and uplifting song that stands the test of time.

What is so nice about this film is that they didn’t go down the path that so many films nowadays do. When our hero falls in love it doesn’t cause a rift between the two best friends, their relationship continues on as it always has. This feels more realistic and is one of the things that gives this film such a heart-warming atmosphere.

The only part of the film I’m not particularly a fan of is the sequence when Don is explaining the beginning of their re-make to create “The Dancing Cavalier”. I don’t think it should have had such a long segment in the film as it doesn’t really make that much sense besides a way to showcase more of Gene’s dancing. However, the dancing is great and the costumes fantastic. Cyd Charisse’s dancing is amazing, partnering Gene Kelly excellently. Since her career rested upon her dancing abilities, she insured her legs for $1 million. Gene Kelly brought her in to partner him in this dance number since it was very complex and Debbie Reynolds hadn’t had any dancing training. My appreciation for what an impressive job Debbie Reynolds did with the dancing in this film was greatly increased on hearing this.

Singin’ in the Rain has one of the best downfalls for our film’s villain Lina. After taking all the credit for the singing in their new film, which was done by Kathy, and ensuring that Kathy will have to always be her voice in the talkies, she insists on talking to the audience as her victory lap. The audience are confused by the difference in her voice when she actually speaks and they request her to sing for them. Don, Cosmo and Mr Simpson (their agent) come up with a clever plan, they get Kathy to sing behind the curtain on stage whilst Lina mimes in front of the audience. As the viewer we take Kathy’s side, as we are just as outraged as her that they would give-in to Lina. We then get Kathy’s rendition of Singin’ in the Rain. Whilst the performance is happening, the three men are smiling and looking very proud of themselves, which is a bit confusing up until they start pulling the rope that opens the curtain revealing Kathy to the audience. It is a relief to learn that Don and Cosmo haven’t turned their backs on Kathy but have devised a plan for Lina’s downfall. A confused Kathy continues to sing whilst the audience are in fits of laughter and Lina is oblivious. We’re all just waiting for Lina to realise and it comes in a great way. Cosmo runs on stage, pushes Kathy away from the microphone and starts to sing. The shock on Lina’s face is hilarious and the perfect end.

#singin in the rain #Film Review #gene kelly #donald o'connor #debbie reynolds

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