SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952) ★

Turns out that even as early as 1952 people were making movies reflecting wistfully/cynically on Hollywood's past. The backward look here allows for some rather charming meta effects, and for a clever recycling of studio-owned IP (some of the songs, including the eponymous one, date as far back as 1929). But much of this is beside the point. The point, really, is that Gene Kelly's dancing body is a thing of enormous beauty—spectacular in all senses of the word—and to have it so abundantly documented, in such a profusion of spry and colorful contexts, makes a profound contribution to the commonwealth of humanity and to our understanding of our communal genius as a species. The fact that Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds more than hold their own in this company is an added bonus (and special mention to the underrated Cyd Charisse, who commands attention despite the relative superfluity of her role and the tacked-on nature of her number).

A ★★★★½ review of Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Turns out that even as early as 1952 people were making movies reflecting wistfully/cynically on Hollywood’s past. The backward look here allows for some rather charming meta effects, and for a clever recycling of studio-owned IP (some of the songs, including the eponymous one, date as far back as 1929). But much of this is beside the point. The point, really, is that Gene Kelly’s dancing body is a thing of enormous beauty—spectacular in all senses of the word—and to have it so abundantly documented, in such a profusion of spry and colorful contexts, makes a profound contribution to the

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