 |
Singin' in the Rain (Two-Disc Special Edition) by Donen, Stanley
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
DVD Cover InformationActor: Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, Harry Cody, Lance Fuller, Mae Clarke Director: Donen, Stanley Brand: KELLY,GENE Primary Contributor: Donald O'Connor Primary Contributor: Debbie Reynolds DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled) Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled Picture Format: 1.33:1 Running Time: 103 minutes DVD Release Date: 2002-09-24 Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of Singin' in the Rain (Two-Disc Special Edition)Movie Review: This wonderful picture will make you wanna sing... Summary: 5 StarsWho doesn't know the words to the song `Singin' in the Rain'? I mean, seriously, even if you have yet to see the movie I'm sure you could sing that song word for word right now.
Go ahead; I'll wait.
The thing is that I too had never seen this movie yet knew all those words and it made me question just why it was that I never sat down to watch this beloved musical. I am not really a huge musical lover, but then again, I've never been one to disregard a movie because of genre before. I'll watch anything at least once. So, when this came on TCM a few months ago I just had to watch it. I got everything ready for `movie night' (the drinks, the friends, the snacks) and I settled in to watch what has steadily been considered one of the top ten movies of all time.
I loved it!
Everything about this movie fits so perfectly into one another. The music is divine, the performances are stellar, the set pieces are delicious and the script is fun, fresh and wholly entertaining. There is not a single misstep here. It's not the best movie of all time, but it works magic with every fiber of its being.
The film tells of film star Don Lockwood as he struggles to transition himself from `silent' film star to `talkie' film star. His frequent costar and rumored lover Lina Lamont is a selfish and spoiled diva whose voice is just not suited for film, so a young and talented singer named Kathy Selden is hired to dub her voice for their upcoming film. When Don falls in love with Kathy things get out of hand. Lina is furious and it becomes apparent that their love affair could sink the whole picture.
Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor make a wonderful team here, feeding off each others energy to create some of the most impressive and widely acclaimed dance numbers in musical history. Solo they are spectacular, but together they are even better; and what is so awesome is that when Debbie Reynolds (who is so refreshingly spunky here) jumps in she makes the perfect pair into a vibrant threesome. The real scene stealer though is Jean Hagen. She may not sing or dance but she acts her tail off, delivering an iconic comedic performance that will have you rolling in your seats.
I haven't had this much fun watching a movie in a long time (I tend to prefer the dramatic and depressing films, so this was a nice change of pace). I've since seen the film again and loved it just as much if not more the second time around. This is a film designed to make you smile, and is succeeds at doing just that.
Summary of Singin' in the Rain (Two-Disc Special Edition)A Hollywood actor who has risen from vaudville to become a silent film star must make the difficult transition to sound. Genre: Musicals Rating: G Release Date: 24-SEP-2002 Media Type: DVD Decades before the Hollywood film industry became famous for megabudget disaster and science fiction spectaculars, the studios of Southern California (and particularly Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) were renowned for a uniquely American (and nearly extinct) kind of picture known as The Musical. Indeed, when the prestigious British film magazine Sight & Sound conducts its international critics poll in the second year of every decade, this 1952 MGM picture is the American musical that consistently ranks among the 10 best movies ever made. It's not only a great song-and-dance piece starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and a sprightly Debbie Reynolds; it's also an affectionately funny insider spoof about the film industry's uneasy transition from silent pictures to "talkies." Kelly plays debonair star Don Lockwood, whose leading lady Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) has a screechy voice hilariously ill-suited to the new technology (and her glamorous screen image). Among the musical highlights: O'Connor's knockout "Make 'Em Laugh"; the big "Broadway Melody" production number; and, best of all, that charming little title ditty in which Kelly makes movie magic on a drenched set with nothing but a few puddles, a lamppost, and an umbrella. --Jim Emerson
|
 |
|
|
|