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Nothing like a romantic musical to start the month of love! It was nostalgic and sweet and had a classic "White Christmas" vibe to it. I've got those songs stuck in my head now :) Everyone in this was incredibly talented in so many ways! I do wish we could have seen more of cosmo though... Hope you enjoy! Star Trek V coming tomorrow!

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[Full Reaction] Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Comments

Brian McGovern

Never seen this. Looking forward to a watch.

Wes

Great classic! Loved Watching this with my mom as a kid 😁

Night King01

What happened to tron legacy?

Clay F

This is what she said in the text description of her Tron reaction: "Okay this made me excited to watch Tron Legacy before our trip to Disney World!"

TinCan Cosmanaut

Never seen this. Hoping for a fun watch along!

Mike LL

Yes the song Singing In The Rain came first. The song wasn’t written for the movie. This movie was written for the song!

Jacob King

I read your comment and immediately got the song Convoy stuck in my head. Movies based on novelty songs is like a whole genre.

Mary Therese Ryan Ceballos

I’m SO glad to be watching this with you! And I cannot wait to see if you love it. If I judge your taste correctly, you’ll be in love with this perfect gem of a movie. This is the romance you want, with the sweet and sassy comedy you enjoy. I’ve spent my entire life in love with Gene Kelly. My 25 year old daughter will go to her grave in love with Donald O’Connor. She actually sent me in pursuit of some of the films where he’s the lead, and she’s got a point. Debbie Reynold is just ethereal in this. And we quite Lena Lamont on a weekly basis in our family. “People! I ain’t people!” “What do you think I am, dumb or something?” My darling husband got me tickets to see this on the big screen in Hollywood for my birthday, and it was brilliant to be in a theater full of parents and children and people who’d never seen this amazing movie, and hear them laugh in dark theater. It was like seeing it for the first time again, and it actually brought tears to my eyes because this movie is woven into the fabric of my life.

Biggman83

This will be my Sunday night movie! Singin in the rain is in my top Ten movies, it’s just a nice cosy film to watch. So glad you watched it! The Cosmo actor is hugely talented, that Dance routine is a one off!

Zane From Canada

I love this movie and I love Gene Kelly's style of dance. So powerful and vibrant. My absolute favorite dance number is the one he did on rollerskates. 😁 https://youtu.be/wf4c-LMJeeA?si=XEWYYF-Y5P4bGokD

Clay F

I heard the echo when you clapped. I had no idea that a young Debbie Reynolds was in this movie. I didn't recognize her until I read it. She's beautiful. This was my first watch of the movie. After some thought, it's the only musical I like. Also, maybe I am trying to be more open in my old age and not exclude entertainment I might like. I have like musicals as plays on stage with me watching in person (e.g., in floor seating or first few rows of the mezzanine) but not as a movie on film. While I have not been into filmed musicals, I liked this movie and that's without nostalgia (e.g., watching the movie as a kid with my mother or grandmother). You can tell that talented people were involved with this movie. Gene Kelly was damn good. I have heard snippets of (or reference to) the song "Singin' in the Rain" over the years (who hasn't). I mean that song seems kinda part of the culture. I always thought someone like Fred Astaire or Bing Crosby, with me not really knowing about Gene Kelly. I just read there is a Crosby 1961 version. Also, read that Fred Astaire helped Debbie Reynolds get over criticisms from Gene Kelly.

Gábor Árki

That "big 10-4" now has the ♫East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'♫ song stuck my head. 😄

Shawn Kildal

Debbie Reynolds is also Carrie Fisher's mother. Carrie Fisher is best known for playing Princess Leia in Star Wars. Overcome with grief, Debbie passed away the very next day after Carrie died.

Justtired

Cathy was played by Debbi Reynolds. She’s the mother of Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars).

Mary Therese Ryan Ceballos

I have to add, the woman in green in the dream sequence is Cyd Charisse, one of the most criminally underrated stars ever. She’s the star of another movie with another giant of dance, Fred Astaire. The movie is called Silk Stockings, and it’s probably my next favorite music to Singing in the Rain. lol! I had to come back and edit the title of the movie. Do NOT post in the middle of the night. I typed “Silk Stalkings” which was a guilty pleasure, cheesy detective show from the 90s, rather than the actual title of the movie “Silk Stockings”. Red Blues, Cheery Siberia, and I Love All of You.

Mike LL

And it's hard to forgive Carrie Fisher's father, Eddie Fisher, for dumping Debbie for Hollywood bad girl Elizabeth Taylor when Carrie was just a baby!

Roger Hagerty

Gene Kelly's effortless dancing, made me wish I wasn't born with two left feet. Still the only musical I ever liked.

Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)

Finally, back to the good stuff! Oh how I love this movie! A beautiful romantic musical. The music in this fills you with nostalgia, and love. This is a how movies are supposed to make you feel.

Henry Graham

Singin’ in the Rain’s portrait of the awkward transition to Talkies is fun but the idea of actors losing their careers because they didn’t sound right on screen is somewhat overstated. Some struggled but there were often a variety of factors involved, and in fact, just as many stars benefitted from the changeover, with their unusual delivery adding to their appeal – Jean Arthur, Kay Francis, Greta Garbo, for example. The biggest impact that the introduction of sound had on cinema was the extraordinary limitations it imposed on filmmakers. The cameras and audio equipment were so cumbersome the images suddenly became incredibly static, with actors having to be positioned to be recorded by hidden microphones. Some early 1930s films are so stiff and dull to look at, and they sit in painful contrast with the boldness and excitement of the late-silent era cinematography. Look at the silent films produced in 1927/28 while sound was taking off. Sunrise; Metropolis; Napoléon; The Unknown; 7th Heaven; The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg; Wings; Underworld; The Ring; Casanova; The Passion of Joan of Arc; Un Chien andalou; The Crowd; The Wind; Steamboat Bill, Jr.; Storm Over Asia; Show People; Underground. It was a glorious time, but after this period of great visual expression, the early Talkies era was a total reset. Chaplin refused to talk on screen until 1940 – and waited until he could really make it count. I hope Cassie delves into the silent era at some point. There are wonders to be discovered there.

Jacob King

Definitely a feel good movie. Justice for Cosmo. I do feel a bit sorry for Lena. Another good Gene Kelly picture to check out would be The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967). The Artist (2011) would be a great pick for romance month. It’s a silent movie that’s also about the introduction of talkies. I’m pretty sure it won the Oscar. Hail, Caesar! (2016) is a modern musical comedy where Channing Tatum does a very Cosmo inspired dance number but it’s an Easter movie not a romance.

rubberkidney

time to watch stanley kubricks a clockwork orange now! a fun little rom com about growing up!

Joshua Stormont

My favorite musical. Thanks for doing it.

Ted Little

Thank you! This is what I signed up for: to see you react to wonderful movies, movies that are great entertainment and great works of art.

Björn Karlsson

This song was not written for a certain movie 🙃🙃 https://youtu.be/bhWEI6-_w9E?si=MAoCfMWpxwGCBMcc Donno if the link works 🫣🫣

Larry Darrell

Actually… it’s more like White Christmas had a Singin in the Rain vibe, and not because it was released first. MGM invented the musical style which you see in both films, and perfected it throughout the 30s and 40s. MGM created the first “talking” movie musical, The Broadway Melody (1929), with music by Nacio Herb Brown and lyrics by Arthur Freed. (Same folks as Singin in the Rain 1952) MGM’s 2nd “talking” musical, The Hollywood Revue (1929), featured the song “Singin in the Rain,” music & lyrics by Brown & Freed. Here is that number… https://youtu.be/OQIDza2v8Z8?si=v_tvaP9umub9Ovy_ Singin in the Rain (1952) was an Homage and Tribute to MGM’s Musical History, showing how far they had come and achieved. There was a reason they titled the film within a film, Broadway Melody. PS: If anyone owns the 3 Disc Blu-ray set of either The Wizard of Oz (1939) or Gone With the Wind (1939), there is a double-sided disc featuring a 6 Hour Documentary series… MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992), hosted by Patrick Stewart. This chronicles the history of MGM. Well worth a watch.

Scott Macaulay

This was my first time seeing this as well. I had a lot of fun watching it with Cassie. I believe Debbie Reynolds is Carrie Fisher's mom (Princess Leia). She was a peach. Interestingly, I saw many parallels to this movie and Once Upon A Time in Hollywood by Tarentino.

Mojo One Thousand

#JusticeForCosmo This is one of my mum's favourite movies. She had always loved musicals, and because of her I have a fondness for them as well. I actually had a musical double-header of sorts, I watched a live production of "Wicked" and then came home and saw this reaction was available so jumped in. I hadn't seen since I was a kid, but I remember enjoying Donald O'Connor's work from this, and "Good morning, good morning" has always stuck in my head more than the titular "Singin' in the rain". Debbie Reynold's was a glorious talent. It still makes a bit sad that she basically died of a broken heart, only the day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, died.

Bill Hayden

Moonstruck or Tootsie would be great for February. Now, I'm off to go enjoy the sunshine.

Mike LL

Thanks Larry for the link to the 1929 Singing In The Rain performance. I had never seen that before. I don't know what it is, but the 1950's has always been my least favorite movie decade. So even though Singing In the Rain is the most famous movie musical possibly, I will always prefer the black and white RKO Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musicals of the 30's to any color musical in the 40's, 50's, or 60's. I do agree that MGM contributed greatly to the Hollywood musical, and sorry I don't have access to that doc When the Lion Roars. I'll look it up and try to find an alternate source.

Henry Graham

He struggled to adapt, for sure, although even in his case as the poster boy for Talkie casualties there are other things to consider. In The Parade's Gone By, Kevin Brownlow argues that it was the dismal quality of his early sound films that really scuppered him rather than the oft-mentioned 'squeaky voice,' and if you listen to his recordings of his voice from this era he sounds fine. He was also an alcoholic and antagonised Louis B. Mayer to the point where he delighted in destroying his career, which didn't help.

Matt Rose

Cassie: Considering your enjoyment of this one, you might want to consider giving THE MUSIC MAN (1962) a go as well.

Celeste McAllister

Musicals are a piece of movie history! "Make em' Laugh"!...'The Music Man' 1962 ties in with the 4th of July,'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' 1953 any time of the year..

Clifton Owens

Debbie Reynold's was Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) Mother.

Mannygogou

Oklahoma! (1955) ...where the farmer and the cowhand don't see eye to eye they circle each other warily.

Carol_White

Given the plot of this movie, it is ironic but necessary to point out that there are audio issues with this reaction. 1. Cassie's voice keeps on cutting out; and 2. they need to glue a bunch of throw pillows to the ceiling to tamp out the echo.

Gary W

Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly starred together in "Brigadoon," another MGM Musical from the Golden Age of the movies. Wonderful singing & dancing, of course.

Stick Figure Studios

At long last, my prayers are answered. You have seen one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) musicals ever made. Gene Kelly was quite handsome, wasn't he? Great smile on that guy. He was also an exceptional dancer (and if you noticed the opening credits, he co-directed the film). Someday I hope you get to see a movie with Fred Astaire, the other extraordinary dancer from that era of motion pictures. Donald O'Connor (Cosmo) is hilarious. He did the entire "Make 'em Laugh " number in one take, then went home and slept for days... only to discover when he got back that they had accidentally destroyed the film while processing it, so he had to do it all over again in one take and then go home and sleep again for several days. Finally, Debbie Reynolds is sweet and lovely, but not quite the dancer that Kelly and O'Connor were, so she had to practice endlessly. The end result on screen is wonderful. What makes SINGING IN THE RAIN so marvelous is not just the teriffic cast, bright colors, sharp writing, catchy songs and stunning dancing, it's that it also serves as a wonderful portrait of the tumultuous era in Hollywood when silent films became"talkies." It's educational as well as entertaining. Yes, it is true that the arrival of sound ended the careers of some actors. The character of Lina Lamont, with her annoying voice, is an amalgamation of several different actresses (like Clara Bow, Norma Talmudge and Vilma Banky) who just couldn't make the transition. Ironically when you hear Debbie Reynolds dubbing beautifully for Lena, that is not actually Reynolds singing beautifully. That is Jean Hagen, the actress who plays Lina Lamont, using her real voice rather than her exaggerated high-pitched one. So she's dubbing the actress who in the story is dubbing for her! Only in the movies! :-) SINGING IN THE RAIN was made only 30 years after the events it depicts and it is obviously a product of its time: namely, it's a studio picture so the studio, represented by RF Simpson (an affectionate spoof of producer Arthur Freed who could never quite envision the elaborate and expensive musical numbers he was often okaying) is portrayed very positively Consider: who is the villain of the piece? A spoiled actor! Lol. This is such a delightful film. I am so glad you finally got a chance to watch it and am even more giad that you enjoyed it.

Steve Holton

Well said Damian. A very upbeat, easy watch film. Many great performances. And Jean Hagen earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her role as Lina.

Stick Figure Studios

It is a real "feel-good" film. My mom told me the story of being home sick from school one day and coming across it on TV. During the two hours that she watched it, she didn't feel sick at all. It's boundless joy is perfectly captured in the iconic dance number of the titular song showing a man so happy that he is brazenly defying the elements.

Larry Darrell

I first read your comment, and didn’t understand what you were talking about. After watching it again, I totally saw it. Rick & Cliff are like Don & Cosmo. Cool.

Stick Figure Studios

YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT is a wonderful movie, but Kelly's hardly in it. It's also in French, which isn't a problem for me, but might be for Cassie or many of her patrons.

Terry Yelmene

The graceful rain stomp dance and... Princess Laia's mom- to boot! FUN react!

Tom Moore

Anyone else lose the general chat for PiB or know what happened to it?

Tom Moore

Just for fun some of the best old musical movie dance bits mashed with Uptown Funk a few years ago. https://youtu.be/M1F0lBnsnkE?si=r3a2d7-zjEGASuNe

Gábor Árki

This movie surprised me with its quality and entertainment value. I was never a fan of musicals, with the exception of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, which is one of my mom's favorite movies and I watched it many times. This movie had some excellent performances and a lot of fun moments. I can see why it is highly praised. Also, I always had a thing for movies that allow us to peek behind the curtain and showcase some aspects of filmmaking. With that said, I would like to repeat one of my earlier suggestions for a poll or even a theme week featuring films that focus on filmmaking. For example, THE ARTIST (2011), HUGO (2011), GET SHORTY (1995), ED WOOD (1994), THE PLAYER (1992), CHAPLIN (1992), and so on.

Scott Macaulay

Yup. Two movie partners and friends, one is the star, transitioning into a new era for Hollywood. It just occurred to me that both movies showed scenes from the fictional movies in the stories to a point where you forget which movie you are watching. edit: I just did a deep dive and bingo! "DiCaprio, who appeared alongside Tarantino, echoed the director’s sentiments. “It’s hard to speak about a film that we haven’t done yet, but I’m incredibly excited… to work with Brad Pitt, and I think [Tarantino’s] going to transport us. I’m a huge fan of Singin’ in the Rain — movies about Hollywood." -Consequence.net

Cole Jennett

Just a guess but maybe it timed out due to inactivity? I don’t think it was a feature she committed to make use of.

thansen

I would love to see a reaction to Get Shorty, maybe my favorite Travolta performance.

sharkey197

Cassie, this film came out the year I was born. It was great that you chose it to react to. I recently got a friend of mine to check out several of your YT videos (two of them the recent Star Treks) and he thought you were a wonderful commentator. He pointed something out to me that I had never thought of. When you and other young people react to these older films, you are contributing to the preservation of film history by sending them out into the cosmos and making others aware of them. So, keep it up! You are on a noble mission. I hope you can do more classics in the future since you are so good at being able to appreciate them in context and your reactions are always so delightful. By the way, the Singing in the Rain number was done on a set with the water all being piped in for the rain effect. Gene Kelly was sick with flu when he filmed it. But you would never know it. They were true pros back them, multi talented, charismatic and beloved of American audiences.

thansen

Singin' in the Rain is for me on the Mt Rushmore of movie musicals. I haven't seen all of them yet but of those I have I would also include Grease, Broadway Melody of 1936 (with the incomparable Eleanor Powell) and Beauty and the Beast (1991). The 60s surprisingly saw some films I felt were kind of a letdown, such as Sound of Music, West Side Story and especially Mary Poppins. All fine films but not quite as good as I had hoped. I am hoping to watch a few recommendations like Cabaret and Moulin Rouge and a few others. I have seen a few Astaire and Ginger films, very good ones. And 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933 feature some of the most astonishing dance routines ever filmed.

Jacob King

I’m trying to subtly push Catherine Deneuve movies into the wider reactor space.

Stick Figure Studios

I'd love to see reactions to those films. Fine films in their own right, but they can also serve as gateways to other types of great movies: THE ARTIST could pave the way for more silent films, ED WOOD can open the door to Orson Welles, CHAPLIN can lead to more Chaplin films, etc.

Thomas Thompson

Sunset Boulevard, one of the great film noir also deals with the switch from silent films to talkies and Hollywood. The jazz singer, went off like an atomic bomb in Hollywood, and ended quite a few film careers singing the rain is widely, regarded as the best musical of all time, but I think American Paris is may be a close second also Gene Kelly film, but my personal favorite is funny face also from the 1950s, starring the king of musicals, the great and legendary Fred Astaire coast, starring Audrey Hepburn and KayThompson

Mary Therese Ryan Ceballos

With Van Johnson! Another excellent movie. When I was about 15, my sister had taped it off of cable. I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember those days. I was born 12 years before cable and before VCRs, so it was a big deal. lol When I would come to babysit her kids for the weekend, Brigadoon was one of the movies I would pull out of the box to watch with them. I can still remember them sitting in the laundry basket with their juice boxes, completely enthralled and singing “Ga hulk, ha hulk, ga hulk a Bonnie Jean!” at the top of their lungs. I never taught them the real lyrics because they loved singing their own version so much.

Henry Graham

I haven't seen much of Clara Bow's post-silent work although I'll have the opportunity next week as there's a rare screening of Paramount on Parade in London. Looking forward to seeing and hearing her!

Mannygogou

This one I like a lot. It's so iconic in its time (for all time) that Monty Python spinoff Fawlty Towers does an obscure reference to it from the other side of the world and everyone goes bananas! lol Wolverine has done it (we won't go into later versions). This is the one like a giant gorilla in the room - it may be well-behaved and everyone might ignore it but it carries a lot of weight and gravitas... It is always there and it's a force of nature 🙂 Hannibal Lecter referenced it and no one blinked. One of its actors speak about working with Marlon Brando back in the day...

Mannygogou

once in a while you have to cup one hand next to your mouth and call out... "Gotta dance... !"

Larry Darrell

MGM Musicals and Romances preceding Singin' in the Rain (1952)... "Good Morning"... by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, from Babes in Arms (1939) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCbnJeMSGZ4 "All I Do is Dream of You"... by Gene Raymond singing to Joan Crawford, from Sadie McKee (1934) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upUw-MedQ4Y "Beautiful Girl"... by Sam Ash, with Maureen O'Sullivan dancing, from Stage Mother (1933) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfyZuFTuyqg "You Were Meant for Me"... by Charles King singing to Anita Paige, from The Broadway Melody (1929) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqC1zV7bUlg "Would You"... by Jeanette MacDonald, from San Francisco (1936) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2IM0czX1VM "You Are My Lucky Star"... by Frances Langford, Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZjo_K1dxXc and by Eleanor Powell, from Broadway Melody of 1936 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8go0Obiwa6k and Eleanor Powell dancing to a jazzed up version of the song, from Broadway Melody of 1936... and also Without music. ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1G9aQEmfyQ and just for fun... "Fit as a Fiddle (and Ready For Love)" song from 1932... by Steve Martin and Gregory Hines (1981) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo8M9Btv0SA and and just one last one... "Be a Clown"... written by Cole Porter, performed by Gene Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers, from The Pirate (1948), produced by Arthur Freed. An inspiration for another. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9250pY6wfQ Sound familiar. :-)

Tinkerbell

Love that you finally got to see this. It really is the most wonderful musical. You asked about the title song, it actually was not created for this film-all but three of the songs were from other movies. If you are interested in more Gene Kelly, I suggest watching An American in Paris or Summer Stock next. Debbie Reynolds (aka Princess Leia’s mother) was good in the Unsinkable Molly Brown. She also did a lot of movies where she plays a very young woman who falls for an older man. If you can get past the fact that by today’s standards it’s slightly creepy, they are pretty charming-because she was charming. I like Tammy, The Tender Trap, Susan Slept Here, and The Mating Game. The director Stanley Donen made a lot of really fabulous films including two of my favorites: Charade and Funny Face-both are worth a watch. One of my favorite stories from this movie is that Reynolds was not a trained dancer and Kelly (even by his own admission) was really mean to her. She went and hid in a rehearsal space one day. Fred Astaire came in to practice and found her crying under the piano. She told him what was wrong and he helped her with her dancing. By all accounts he was a very nice man. You should watch some Astaire movies soon-preferably one of the films he made with Ginger Rogers.

Zachary K. (Verified Swiftie)

Any classic movies she does are going to be good I will be happy to watch them. I gave up on suggesting movies. For one no matter what it's going to be good and two she's going to do what she wants. I could suggest Oliver! Which one best picture and was a musical. Or Anna and The Apocalypse which was Zombie Musical. Whatever movie she chooses is going to be good as long as it's not Star Trek, nothing against the movies, they are just not my style. I love classic love stories, anything with Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable in it. Sharon Tate we only saw a glimpse of her she would have been a great actress Audrey Hepburn was fabulous in almost everything she touched. Grace Kelly was beautiful and had tremendous talent. Action, Thrillers, Historical Flicks as long as they are fifty percent truthful Mysteries like the new True Detective. Which is is absolutely fabulous it keeps getting better by the week.

Larry Darrell

I kinda know what you mean. They were simpler then with great stories and really focused on the dancing more than elaborate sets and ballet numbers. Like Irving Berlin and Danny Kaye said… “Chaps who did taps aren't tapping anymore They're doing choreography Chicks who did kicks aren't kicking anymore They're doing choreography” I’ll take a Tap number over an expressionistic dance number any day. My personal favorite Hoofer is Eleanor Powell. I fell in love with her the first time I saw her… and that feeling hasn’t changed. Anytime I see Buddy Ebsen pop up, it’s always a delight. That all being said, there are other players I still love to watch. June Allyson, Red Skelton, and the Duo of Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly. Virginia O’Brien… nobody like her. https://youtu.be/GZXGEz8HY4M?si=bFhS1KetUP47AqvU And I’m always on the look out for The Nicholas Brothers or The Berry Brothers. If things had been just a little different, their names would be remembered along side of Astaire and Kelly. https://youtu.be/fBP1C_kcvok?si=SGM7ZUFP-W8vb6Ax Watch to the end of that last video… Holy cOW!

Sandra Jewitt

Gene Kelly was extremely talented. Singer, dancer, choreographer and director. He's in some of the best musicals ever.

Marja

I have a deep connection to this film, having started watching it in the early 70s on local TV. It’s in my top 5 of all time! First of all, I love the time period and the movie/Hollywood setting. Then the sharp and witty dialogue from Comden and Green is unmistakable! Then you throw in talent of this caliber, including Jean Hagen, it’s absolute perfection. It’s also amazing to think that Debbie Reynolds was not a dancer but had to be taught by Gene Kelly. Donald O’Connor was a long time hoofer, and only 27 at the time! Everyone brought their A game. I was fortunate enough to see this at the 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival, for a special 60th anniversary screening at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre. It was a sold-out audience and the experience was magical! I’ve been quoting Lina Lamont, doing the little edge of sidewalk dance (to my own downfall, literally) and singing the songs for decades - with no plans to stop! Oh, and big love for Cyd Charisse. I’m not one for fantasy sequences, but she’s colossal!!!

Larry Darrell

No one has mentioned Rita Moreno, who played Zelda. She’s still known by the younger folks of today, right? Both West Side Story films, the remake of One Day at a Time, 80 for Brady, Fast X… And many, many more from her 70 plus year career.

Larry Darrell

Busby Berkeley being the one responsible for those Astonishing Dance Routines.

Larry Darrell

“Every gear jammer knows his name They swear he got icewater runnin in his veins Foot like lead, and nerves like steel He's gonna go to glory ridin 18 wheels” -Jerry Reed I hope this is a sign that Smokey and the Bandit (1977) is on the horizon. ;-)

Bert Towle

It's a great golden age musical. Gene Kelly is one of the all-time greats, but to me he always seemed to be posing during performances. Watching Donald O'Connor, he seems to just be entertaining. Kelly kept performing after his sort of musicals became passé, making 2 of the worst musicals ever - "The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967)" and "Xanadu (1980)" (which has a cult following).

Larry Darrell

Here ya go… https://youtu.be/oGlaPXQyfyM?si=eW1Hg29VeES3HIzT And for Gene on skates again at the age of 67, check out Xanadu (1980).

Mike LL

Yankee Doodle Dandy would be another dream Cassie reaction for me! James Cagney gives an incredible performance in that musical biography!

Mike LL

In a conversation about Gene Kelly directing musicals it must not be forgotten his fortunate (or unfortunate) experience directing HELLO DOLLY (1969) one of the big studios attempting (and failing) to recreate the success of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Even though HELLO DOLLY was not the big financial success it was hoped for (because of its enormous budget) it had incredible performances by Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau and will forever be immortalized in WALL-E. I saw the film on the big screen when it came out and also about 8 years ago. Seeing Streisand belt out Before The Parade Passes By on the big screen is an amazing experience.

Mike LL

Stick, it is hard not to be won over by your enduring admiration for this film. I have never counted it as one of my favorite musicals, mainly because I had actually never watched it all the way through until just fairly recently. But I must admit it was a joy to watch Cassie's growing enthusiasm for the cast and the songs as the movie went on. Bright, breezy, colorful and fun, I will add it to my watch list of Classic Era film reactions by Cassie and watch it over and over. Maybe I too will become a big fan of the movie like you!

John Liebling

Donald Oconner was always a vaudevillian clown. His silly shtick always broke up his castmates, and that's why the put "Be A Clown" routine in the movie, it was not originally scripted. Donald was always a great talent. He was supposed to be in White Christmas, before he got sick. Danny Kaye was a last-minute sub.

John Liebling

Two excellent musicals out before Singing In The Rain, are On The Town (1949) and An American in Paris (1951) I am sure Cassie would enjoy those movies as much as she enjoyed Singing In The Rain. And hopefully she looks into Fred Astaire movies of the 30s and 40s.

John Liebling

Cassie, you mentioned how much you enjoy the Sound of Music, the director of that, also directed your first Star Trek movie. And the Sound of Music came from the brilliant minds of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Their talent shines brightly through the following musicals you'd enjoy just as much as the Sound of Music: 1. Oklahoma 2. Carousel 3. Show Boat 4. South Pacific 5. King and I 6. State Fair 7. Flower Drum Song 8. Cinderella And of course a movie you'd enjoy, not from Rogers and Hammerstein, and that's "Mary Poppins" 1964...same actress you enjoyed in the Sound of Music.

John Liebling

It would be a fun watch for Cassie to see "Adam's Rib" with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. And a younger Jean Hagen and Judy Holiday. And after that to watch the classic "Born Yesterday" staring Judy Holiday. Shame she only lived to be 43. She played dumb in films, but she was incredibly intelligent in real life.

John Liebling

A Fred Astaire is even better. Fred was also 13 years older. Gene was born 112 years ago and Fred 125 years ago.

Carol_White

She's not going to watch any of these unless you hold her at gunpoint. But thanks for the effort, I guess.

Larry Darrell

Who said they were just for her? Who said they were for anyone that wasn't interested? I was interested, and maybe someone else would be, too. But mainly I was interested, and I enjoyed doing it. Thanks for the concern. ;-)

Marja

Astaire also changed how musicals were shot. He insisted on the head-to-toe view so we could see the complete body in motion. Plus, he never wanted to repeat his routines; he was a constant innovator and was excited by the dance moves Bob Fosse brought to the dance scene in the 50s!

Marja

I was waiting for Cassie to learn about Rita and Debbie being the mother of Carrie Fisher.

Marja

For me, The Bandwagon and Singin’ have equal weight, with a slight edge to Singin’. Is this where I use the ubiquitous phrase, “underrated gem”?!?! Jk, I know Bandwagon is not but I do know it’s doesn’t get same reaction channel love as Singin’. And it’s worth everyone’s time!

Marja

Wouldn’t a reaction to Born Yesterday be just the ticket? But if it doesn’t happen here, at least I can show it to my 15-yr old niece. We’re going to show her All About Eve and maybeeeee Sunset Blvd.

Marja

Hehe, I know you’re kidding! Heading to the 🥛 bar now…

Thomas Thompson

I’m ashamed to say I’ve never seen Bandwagon. But I promise I’ll make it a priority. But only if you’ll watch Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn.

Larry Darrell

I sent Cassie a copy of Born Yesterday (1950) last month. Cassie definitely ought to be introduced to Judy Holliday. Judy Holliday was actually who the writers of Singin in the Rain had in mind for Lina Lamont. But after Holliday won the Oscar for the film Born Yesterday, she had gotten too big for a supporting character. So, the part went to Jean Hagen, who was Holliday’s understudy for the 1946 Broadway production of Born Yesterday. Also, I was around 15 when I saw Sunset Blvd. (1950). I liked it so much, that my Mom got us tickets to go see it on the Stage a few years later at the local Orpheum Theatre, when it came to town. This was my first Big Stage experience. Getting all dressed up to go to the Theatre. It felt like going to Church… only a little more entertaining. That’s a memory I’ll never forget.

Marja

Thank you for sharing your memory. I try to support local/community theatre whenever I can! Jean Hagen crushed that role, in a very unexpected way since I think her movie roles had been rather “sedate” to that point. I’ve heard (but not researched in a serious way) that Jean actually dubbed some for Debbie, when Kathy Selden was dubbing for Lina Lamont. If true, very meta!

Marja

The Bandwagon is a killer musical! And I’ve seen Funny Face a couple of times. Shortly after Astaire died, a local, filthy rich philanthropist dude rented out a local theatre and they held an Astaire film festival. I bought a pass and was off to the races. Seeing those beautiful films on the big screen in a nearly packed theatre is pure magic. The philanthropist ended up buying the theatre as a non-profit situ, and now they show only movies made before 1962. I’m very lucky!

Shawn Kildal

I don't see Chicago mentioned a lot when it comes to musicals to be reacted to which is surprising to me.

Marja

Robert Wise was a pretty eclectic director! I really like his boxing film, The Set Up, starring Robert Ryan. He did sci-fi too.

Thomas Thompson

I’m very jealous. I’ve seen Laurence Of Arabia in 70mm and the original Sabrina on the big screen oh! And How The West Was Won in cinerama, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a musical on the big screen.

Marc Peterson

Thanks so much for this gem of a movie! Keep bringing the Golden Age of Hollywood. Another stunning Gene Kelly musical is On the Town. Three young sailors on 24 hour shore leave in New York City. Great cast with Frank Sinatra, Jules Munshin, Ann Miller and Vera-Ellen (who you just saw in White Christmas). Good amount shot on location in NYC. The dancing, music and costumes are magical and the whole ride is hilarious!

SeanATX

What a classic. Too bad The Great Movie Ride isn't at Disney World anymore, with your upcoming trip. The ride closed in 2017 at Hollywood Studios. This movie as well as a few others you've reacted to on the channel (Alien, Raiders of the Lost Ark,...) feature prominently. Was always one of our favorite rides at WDW, but to be fair the replacement Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railway ride is fantastic.

Marja

Oh, they’re so wonderful! And when you see them in an “art house” like I do, the audience usually applauds after each routine. So respectful and appreciative. Astaire and Kelly films are in regular rotation, but honestly, whoever does their programming is really locked into the popular films of the 30s-50s. Do I occasionally wish for a noir festival beyond the ones we already have in Oakland and San Francisco? Yes, I do! I could blather on with the fortunate big screen experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have, but I won’t!

Marja

Another movie that gets an annual screening at my local art house! In the late 80s, they had Joan Leslie there for a Q&A, and the following year they had the actress who played the Broadway star (Only 45 Minutes From Broadway). Both women lived local! My mom and I brought my young niece and nephew to watch the film, starting a very nice tradition of showing them classic films on the large screen.

John Liebling

That was the inside joke. When it looks like Debbie is dubbing Lena, the talking portion is actually Jean Hagen. And if you listen carefully to the singing voice, that's someone else, not Debbie Reynolds.

Marja

I knew it wasn’t Debbie (the voice is quite different) but didn’t know it was Jean until fairly recent. I love how meta that is!

Thomas Thompson

There was one more you reminded me of. When the remake of Sabrina came out, I saw that in the theaters and then went down the street to the Neptune theater in the University district here in Seattle, and saw the original with Bogart and Audrey Hepburn and William Holden, and when the movie finished, everyone applauded. I’m surprised a place like San Francisco doesn’t have revival theaters, showing film noir movies. It seems like a very obvious choice for San Francisco.

Marja

We have a good amount of “retro” programming going on, from the weekly silents at the Niles Silent Film Museum to programming at The Castro (although, greatly reduced), The Stanford Theatre, Berkeley Film Archives & even 3 Below in San Jose, but we used to have so much more! And I find The Stanford (my usual haunt) Theatre’s programming pretty much “rinse and repeat” with Bogey, musicals, Hitchcock, Jimmy, Cary et al, and don’t get me wrong - I love it - but I’ve been watching these films for 50 years and I feel like I’m just scratching the surface! And film noir just doesn’t get into the regular rotation enough for me at these places.

Marja

I’m feeling spicy. Howz about a reaction to Elmer Gantry (speaking of The Music Man)?!?

Marja

I often have to break out the “deee-leterious and deee-trimental to my career” line, along with the whole “people! I ain’t people!…” section. It’s necessary.

Thomas Thompson

That’s a shame. But I suppose the theater owner schedules what they think the majority will go to see.

Anthony Perez

Was wondering when someone would tell Cassie that Debbie Reynolds is Princess Leias mother!

Marja

Something to bear in mind, this musical, unlike The Sound of Music, West Side Story, The Music Man, etc., was written decades after several of the featured songs were already written and established; they were very effectively shoehorned into the brilliant script (don’t get me wrong, I’m not criticizing). And while “Make ‘Em Laugh” was an original song written for the movie, even it was closely inspired by “Be a Clown” from “The Pirate,” made a few years before. Only this song, and “Moses Supposes,” were original to the movie. Interesting! What I’m dancing at is that it’s hard to expect a “patchwork” musical to resonate the same as a more organic musical like those mentioned above, where all the songs were written expressly for the show. However, with all that explained, it’s still my most favorite musical ever! xoxo

Stevan Carter

Best part of this video: Watching Cassie smile for 90 minutes straight. 😁❤️

YodatheHobbit

It's pretty wild how small Hollywood can feel with Debbie Reynolds being Carrie Fisher's mother, as well as the theater actress Don calls Cathy in the beginning, Ethel Barrymore, being Drew Barrymore's Great Aunt. She was born in freaking 1879! , and they have pretty much the same eyes.

Em McG (edited)

Comment edits

2024-02-26 19:59:47 I guess I'm pretty far behind because I just finished watching this. I know the movie so well I was mostly focused on watching Cassie who seemed to like it quite a bit. But when Gene Kelly and Donald O'Conner were dancing, I couldn't look away. If you notice... the dancing scenes are all shot full body. The frame shows the dancers from head to toe. And they had very long scenes with no cuts. Basically they have to learn the dances and really perform onscreen - compare to anything that would be filmed today there would be a lot of camera cuts and close-ups to hide any bad performance, today they would piece it together, edit a complete scene instead of performing it through like here. Also notice Gene Kelly did a "Jackie Chan" doing a stunt climbing from a moving car to a bus/trolley and then standing on top of it, while acting. This was shot in one take with his full body on camera - not faked. Very cool. He was sword fighting and swung from a chandelier!
2024-02-25 04:33:29 I guess I'm pretty far behind because I just finished watching this. I know the movie so well I was mostly focused on watching Cassie who seemed to like it quite a bit. But when Gene Kelly and Donald O'Conner were dancing, I couldn't look away. If you notice... the dancing scenes are all shot full body. The frame shows the dancers from head to toe. And they had very long scenes with no cuts. Basically they have to learn the dances and really perform onscreen - compare to anything that would be filmed today there would be a lot of camera cuts and close-ups to hide any bad performance, today they would piece it together, edit a complete scene instead of performing it through like here. Also notice Gene Kelly did a "Jackie Chan" doing a stunt climbing from a moving car to a bus/trolley and then standing on top of it, while acting. This was shot in one take with his full body on camera - not faked. Very cool. He was sword fighting and swung from a chandelier!

I guess I'm pretty far behind because I just finished watching this. I know the movie so well I was mostly focused on watching Cassie who seemed to like it quite a bit. But when Gene Kelly and Donald O'Conner were dancing, I couldn't look away. If you notice... the dancing scenes are all shot full body. The frame shows the dancers from head to toe. And they had very long scenes with no cuts. Basically they have to learn the dances and really perform onscreen - compare to anything that would be filmed today there would be a lot of camera cuts and close-ups to hide any bad performance, today they would piece it together, edit a complete scene instead of performing it through like here. Also notice Gene Kelly did a "Jackie Chan" doing a stunt climbing from a moving car to a bus/trolley and then standing on top of it, while acting. This was shot in one take with his full body on camera - not faked. Very cool. He was sword fighting and swung from a chandelier!

Stephen Dias

I'd seen this movie before, but just bought the DVD, so I had to check it this reaction. My parents were big musical buffs and they used the line "I can't stan 'im" often. LOL. And yes, my mom also used to wake us up to the "Good Morning" song.