Singin’ In The Rain

Year: 1952

Grade: B

Country: USA

Director: Kelly/Donen

Review

#10 on the afi list of best american films of all-time. i’m not a huge fan of musicals so i wouldn’t place it anywhere near that high on my own list, but i can see some of the features that helped it garner such a high ranking. it’s a musical about, among other things, the death of the silent era of film. it catalogs a fictional account of two silent stars who attempt to make the transition to the talkie era and one is left behind, though not in the tragic sense (like sunset boulevard). the choreography, costumes and music are all quite good and provide a good spectacle. in some ways it’s a pretty standard hollywood film, but i think the subject matter and production elevate it. kelly is fun to watch and the title song sequence is excellent. other than those things i didn’t like it any more than my fair lady or music man or willy wonka and the chocolate factory.