The Stars of Stage and Screen…Song #63/250: Singin’ in the Rain by Gene Kelly from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the Film Singin’ in the Rain

One of the great truisms in life is that there is nothing so constant as change. Change tends to come at us in waves. Some waves are bigger than others and so having the ability to adapt on the fly can spell the difference between success and failure going forward. Change is one of those things in life that can be looked at negatively (as a pain in the behind) or it can be looked at positively (as being an opportunity for growth). Today’s post looks at a movie that was famous for examining both sides of that dilemma, the 1952 movie musical Singin’ in the Rain starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Cyd Charisse and Rita Moreno among others. In a recent post about Cab Calloway *(that you can read here), I talked a bit about a pair of brothers known as The Nicholas Brothers. They performed a dance routine in a movie called Stormy Weather a decade prior to Singin’ in the Rain. The routine danced by The Nicholas Brothers has been declared as the best dance routine ever captured on film by no less of an authority than Fred Astaire. But there are many who will stake large sums of money on a wager that claims that Gene Kelly’s work during “Singin’ in the Rain” is every bit the equal of The Nicholas Brothers and may actually be the best dance routine ever captured on film. I don’t know about you but I have no problem celebrating the excellence of both routines. Both scenes are iconic in nature and both celebrate that joyful feeling of exhilaration that comes from being truly happy and inspired. And, ironically enough, both movies dealt with the idea of change and how it can transform your life if you approach things with a positive mindset. In any case, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to dance with the raindrops because here is the story of one of Hollywood’s most memorable and lauded films, Singin’ in the Rain. Enjoy.

The storyline of the movie Singin’ in the Rain deals with the transformation that Hollywood went through as the film industry transitioned from the silent film era to making movies known as talkies. In the silent film era, actors certainly performed physically on soundstages and actual locations but their voices were never heard. Instead, all dialogue appeared on screen in the form of written text. This freed the on screen actors to simply concentrate on the physical aspects of their craft. It also freed the movie studios from having to worry about recording dialogue as they filmed or having to dub in it later. Expenses were reduced as a result and everyone was happy. That was until 1927 when singer Al Jolson appeared in a movie called The Jazz Singer, which featured synchronized dialogue for the first time in a feature length film. The Jazz Singer caught the attention of movie-going audiences who found the experience of listening and watching a movie to be easier than watching and reading. However, there were many within the industry who thought that having actual talking in movies was a fad and so there were equal measures of resistance and trepidation involved in their reactions. But as we all know, change is something that happens to us all. There is no escaping it. This was also true of the movie industry as the 1920s came to an end and the 1930s began. The transition from making silent movies to making movies known as talkies was one that shook Hollywood to its core. It made new stars out of performers who were found to have a nice voice and an easy way of speaking while on screen. It also doomed established silent movie stars whose speaking style or vocal qualities didn’t translate as effectively. The plot of Singin’ in the Rain follows a group of performers as this transition unfolds. On film, as in real life, some of these performers embrace the change and prosper as a result. However, some fight the inevitable with all of the strength they can muster only to flounder in the end. If you throw in a love story into the mix then you have the makings of a movie that has become one of the most beloved in Hollywood history.  

The timing of the release of Singin’ in the Rain was another stroke of good luck for the film. The 1930s was the decade of The Great Depression in the U.S. and around the world. The financial stability of the world’s banking systems and the long term future of the manufacturing model of industry were all called into question. Then came the 1940s and WWII. The peaceful co-existence of the world’s nations was called into question. People could be forgiven if they began to wonder if life was ever to return to a state of normalcy and prosperity. Then came the 1950s. The world’s economy settled down. Peace came to most nations of the world. For the first time in over a generation, prospects for a better life began to seem real. It was into this public atmosphere that Singin’ in the Rain debuted in 1952. The feel-good story of love and of overcoming periods of transition and emerging all the better for having survived the challenge was one that audiences and critics alike embraced with vigor and enthusiasm. Even though the plotline dealt with the history of Hollywood, audiences felt as though the story of Singin’ in the Rain was about them, too. Because the film was so personally relevant to so many who watched it when it was first released, the iconic dance scene featuring Gene Kelly blissfully dancing through puddles as the rain fell down was one that had a euphoric quality to it. In the film, Gene Kelly has finally thrown off the shackles of past expectations and had found new love and a new life and was over the moon with happiness. That Kelly’s dancing and singing was able to capture those emotions so accurately is part and parcel as to why the scene resonates so well with all who see it. There is just something wonderful about love and happiness. It is hard not to be happy for someone else when we see them blissed out to the max. It is also not a far stretch for us to internalize that joy and wish it for us, as well. If you have found love in your life, as I have then, watching this dance routine is validation that those feelings you possess are real and are what being in love is meant to feel like. If you have not yet found your heart’s true desire then watching this scene will give you a roadmap and will help you recognize that feeling when your time eventually does come. All in all, the dance scene with Gene Kelly literally singing in the rain is one of the most beloved scenes in all of Hollywood history for a reason. It is terrific in all regards.

Being a dancer is hard work. During my first year of university, I lived in a six-person apartment in downtown Toronto. One of my roommates was a dancer in the Theatre Arts programme. I can remember many times when she had pulled muscles or sore knee and ankle joints. I can even remember her toenails falling off a few times over the course of the year that we were roommates. But through it all, she loved what she did and was more than willing to make the physical sacrifices necessary to hone her skills and practice her craft. Toward the end of that school year she invited all of us to watch her year end recital. While I had watched her practice in our small apartment many times, going to the recital was the first time I ever saw her truly move freely. I was blown away. I thought she was so beautiful and graceful and elegant up there on that stage. From seeing her up close, I knew how strong and fit her body was. But as I watched her dance, every movement seemed almost feather-light and effortless. I guess that is what the good ones do. They take all of that strength and effort and make it seem as though they are walking on air. I often think of my experience living with Gwenyth, my dancing roommate, when I see a dance scene in a movie. I know, through her experiences, how hard a dancer has to work in order to have it appear easy on screen. To all of those dancers through the years, from The Nicholas Brothers on down to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Donald O’ Connor, Cyd Charise, Rita Moreno, Bill “Mr. BoJangles” Robinson, Sammy Davis Jr., on down to more modern performers such as John Travolta, Patrick Swayze, Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov and so many more, I thank you for putting in the long hours necessary to make the very difficult look easy and magical. If I ever stumble across a magical genie lamp and am afforded the opportunity to make selfish wishes just for myself, one of my wishes would be to become a song and dance man. To be a professional singer would be a thrill but to have the fluidity of movement that would allow me to be like The Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather or like Gene Kelly in Singin’ in the Rain well, that would be akin to winning the lottery. How amazing it must be to move as they did! I say this as someone who, in a few short minutes, will rise from my chair with the greatest of caution so as not to pull a muscle! Lol!

We all have transitions that await us as life unfolds. How we deal with those transitions will say a lot about the quality of the lives we get to live. It is easy to settle into a routine. There is great comfort in knowing what to expect and not being surprised when you get exactly what you thought you would out of each day. A life filled with predictability is one that is much sought after by many people. But even the strongest and steadiest of trees experiences growth. It is just how life goes. Knowing that change is always in the offing can be viewed as being part of living a predictable life, I suppose. But how we react to change when it knocks upon our door says a lot about who we are and the quality of that life we are living. Many of us strive for stability in a world that is constantly changing. The odds of being able to maintain that balancing act improve greatly if you know how to move gracefully with the times. We can shed tears behind the glass of our windows or else go outside and sing in the rain. In the end, the choice is ours to make. I prefer to sing.

The link to the video for the movie trailer for the film Singin’ in the Rain can be found here.

The link to the video for the song “Singin’ in the Rain” by Gene Kelly from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the Film, Singin’ in the Rain can be found here.

The link to a fun video montage of famous Hollywood dance scenes as set to the song “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson can be found here. Let’s see how many dance scenes you remember seeing on film! 

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