Singing In the Rain (1952)

 

You know what today is in dire need of? Feelgood films. The ones you can watch and completely enjoy from start to finish and have a blast of a good time, walking away feeling all sunny and cheery. 

Exactly like this absolute gem of a classic. 

We're in the heyday of silent era Hollywood and we meet our charming protagonist Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly). He and his best friend Cosmo have done their dues, coming up from vaudeville in small theatres to eventually (through a bit of luck and daring) to becoming a stuntman and eventually a leading star. Don is coupled with Lina Lamont, who believes she is as wonderful as the press makes her out to be while she is, in fact, an annoyingly spoiled brat. Don takes it all in his stride as he's living the good life now. 

Things start to change when a rival studio goes all in with a new invention: films with sound. At first, many people think this will be a fad and a flop, but when 'The Jazz Singer' hits it big, every studio wants in on it, as does the studio where Don and Lina work. Only one problem: Lina is a klutz and has a voice that can cut glass... Cosmo gets a brilliant idea when one night, he, Don and Don's love interest Kathy have fun singing: why not dub Lina's voice with Kathy's? Which is precisely what they do.

But Don doesn't feel comfortable in letting Lina get the credit, as he truly loves Kathy and wants her to get the recognition. So a cunning little plan is hatched to expose Lina and enter the age of talkies in style...

'Singing In The Rain' embodies all the best parts of the brightly coloured MGM era: it's vibrant, alive, insanely catchy and puts a warm glow in your cold, dead heart. The songs are more than iconic (yes, even the ones that aren't the title track) and the performers are stellar. I mean: just check out the dance routines here. It's mindboggling how they managed to do all this and the choreography will leave you flabbergasted. The film is also funny as heck and never mean-spirited. Sure, Lina is a bit of a nasty woman, but it is not overplayed and you won't hate her by the end. Everything focuses on the positive notes, which is a nice change of pace from a lot of modern films. 

And then the chemistry and fun that oozes from our three leads, oh my. Gene Kelly has such charisma, it's almost criminal; Debbie Reynolds is feisty and charming and Donald O'Connor is the quickwitted comic relief and true friend and it feels as though it is all very much real, even if it is a fantasy. 

Nice touch.

So without delay: enjoy this masterpiece of uplifting cinema. It's a feast for the eyes and ears and warms the heart. 

Brilliance.