Singin' in the Rain
What a Glorious Feeling!
Country
Production
Budget
$2 540 800
Box office
$1 729 345
Director
Actors
Scenario
Producer
Camera operator
Composer
Artist
Audition
Editing
Short description
In 1927 Hollywood, a silent film production company and cast make a difficult transition to sound.
What's left behind the scenes
- Donald O'Connor recounted that Gene Kelly was far from the image of a sensitive mentor on set. He was notorious for his tyrannical tendencies, and O'Connor quickly experienced what it was like to make even the slightest mistake in Kelly's presence.
- The film was originally conceived as a remake of the movie 'Extra Baggage' (1928). Additionally, the opening credits are a reference to 'The Hollywood Revue' (1929).
- During the staging of the choreography for the song “Make 'Em Laugh,” Gene Kelly devised several difficult dance stunts for Donald O’Connor, which left the latter suffering from exhaustion and facial burns (which he received when he tumbled flat on his face on the carpet in one of the song’s scenes) after filming was completed. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that the initially filmed take was rejected due to an accident, and O’Connor had to redo everything after a short break.
- MGM Studio wanted to cast Howard Keel in the lead role.
- Sid Chariss had to learn to smoke – specifically for the “fatal” dance scene.
- One of the scenes between Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen is based on a similar scene between Bibbi Daniels and John Boles in the film "Rio Rita" (1929).
- The film contains a number of parodies of Hollywood stars from the silent era. For example, Zelda Zanders is a parody of Clara Bow, and Olga Mara is a parody of Pola Negri. Meanwhile, Baron de la Madelone is a nod to Marquis Henri de la Falaise, the husband of Gloria Swanson.
- The image of Lina Lamont was inspired by Judy Holliday, with whom Adolph Green and Betty Comden had previously worked in nightclubs as part of the comedy quartet “The Revuers.” There was even an idea to cast Holliday herself in the role of Lina, but after the release of the scandalous film “Born Yesterday” (1950), the actress came under FBI scrutiny (due to the plot, the filmmakers were accused of communist sympathies).
- The rain was made from a mixture of water and milk. It looked perfect on camera, but during filming, this "rain" caused Gene Kelly's wool suit to shrink.
- While staging the choreography for the song 'Make 'Em Laugh,' Gene Kelly came up with several dance stunts for Donald O'Connor that were so grueling that after the song was filmed, the latter suffered from exhaustion and facial burns for an entire week (which he sustained while tumbling flat on a carpet in one of the scenes). The situation was worsened by the fact that the originally filmed take was accidentally ruined, and O'Connor, after a brief rest, had to do everything all over again.
- The rain was made of water and milk. It looked perfect on camera, but during filming, Gene Kelly's wool suit got soaked because of this 'rain'.
- For 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds, who had already played several film roles, this movie was meant to be her career breakthrough. To avoid being late for filming, Debbie, who was living with her parents at the time, had to wake up at 4 a.m. and take three different buses to get to the studio. Sometimes she would catch up on sleep right on the set. Furthermore, she poured so much effort into the filming that blood vessels in her legs would burst during the dance sequences. Reynolds later remarked that filming this movie and carrying a child were the two most grueling experiences of her life.
- MGM Studios initially aimed for a budget of $665,000. However, Walter Plunkett's costumes alone cost $157,000, and the budget ultimately rose to $2.5 million. These investments, however, resulted in enormous box office profits.
- The silent black-and-white film starring Don and Lina, premiered at the beginning, is actually a clip from the real movie 'The Three Musketeers' (1948), in which Gene Kelly played the role of d'Artagnan. In reality, that film is in color and sound, but for 'Singin' in the Rain,' the sound and color were removed from the shown excerpts, and several additional shots featuring Kelly and Jean Hagen were filmed on the same sets. However, in some shots, the viewer sees Lana Turner instead of Hagen, who played Lady Winter in 'The Three Musketeers'.
- Gene Kelly offended Debbie Reynolds by stating that she absolutely could not dance. Fortunately, Fred Astaire happened to be on set and found Reynolds sobbing under the piano. He helped her learn the dances for the film.
- The advent of sound in cinema indirectly inspired the film's screenwriters. The fact is that they once bought a house from a Hollywood silent film star, who also fell victim to the new era in cinema.
- It was precisely because of her youth that Debbie Reynolds got the role of Kathy Selden. MGM Studios really wanted to cast someone more famous, like Judy Garland, June Allyson, or Jane Powell, but they were all considered “too old” for the role of Kathy.
- Initially, all the songs were written for Stanley Donen's film. Then the script was created, taking into account the songs to fit organically into it.
- Gene Kelly insulted Debbie Reynolds, claiming that she couldn't dance at all. Fortunately, Fred Astaire happened to be on set and found Reynolds sobbing under a piano. He was the one who helped her learn the dance routines for the film.
- Stanley Donen reused some of the costumes from this film during the production of another one of his movies, Deep in My Heart (1954).
- Adolph Green and Betty Comden based the character of Lina Lamont on actress Judy Holliday, with whom they had once worked in nightclubs as part of the comedy quartet "The Revuers." There was even an idea to cast Holliday herself as Lina, but after the release of the scandalous film "Born Yesterday" (1950), the actress was under FBI surveillance (due to the plot, the filmmakers were accused of communist sympathies).
- MGM studio hoped to stay within a budget of $665,000. However, Walter Plunkett's costumes alone cost $157,000, and the overall budget swelled to $2.5 million. All these investments, however, resulted in colossal box-office profits.
- Most of the costumes Gene Kelly wears on screen are parodies of his own roles in films such as The Three Musketeers (1948), Pirate (1948), On Stage New York (1948), An American in Paris (1951), and others.
- Filming period: June 18 – November 21, 1951, December 26, 1951 (additional filming).
- The screenwriters wrote the role of Cosmo Brown with Oscar Levant in mind. However, it was played by Donald O'Connor.
- In the film, Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) doubles for the untalented actress Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen). However, in reality, almost all the songs performed on screen by Reynolds were sung off-screen by singer Betty Noyes. Debbie herself sings the song 'Happy Star' in only one of the scenes.
- In one of the early script versions, the musical number “Singin' in the Rain” was to be performed by all three main characters – Don, Kathy, and Cosmo – as they returned from a disastrous screen test for their sound film.
- The downfall of Lina Lamont, a silent film star who failed to adapt to the arrival of sound, only looked like a comedy on screen. In reality, sound in cinema destroyed more than a few careers. For instance, Gene Kelly had several conversations with Buster Keaton to better understand the blow that sound had dealt to the star of "silent comedy."
- The film contains a number of parodies of Hollywood stars from the “silent” era. Zelda Zanders is a parody of Clara Bow, Olga Mara – of Pola Negri. And Baron de la Ma de la Toulon is a reference to Marquis Henri de la Falaise, the husband of Gloria Swanson.
- After Gene Kelly performed the famous dance in the rain, he developed pneumonia.
- Donald O'Connor recalled that on set, Gene Kelly was far from being a supportive mentor. He was notorious for his tyrannical tendencies, and within the first few weeks, O'Connor learned firsthand what it was like to make the slightest mistake in Kelly's presence.
- The silent black-and-white film starring Don and Lina, the premiere of which is shown at the beginning, is actually an excerpt from the real film “The Three Musketeers” (1948), where Gene Kelly played the role of D'Artagnan. In reality, this film is in color and has sound, but for “Singin’ in the Rain,” the sound and color were removed from the shown excerpts, and additional footage with Kelly and Jean Hagen was filmed in the same sets. However, in some shots, instead of Hagen, the viewer sees Lana Turner, who played Lady Winter in “The Musketeers.”
- During the making of the film, shooting days sometimes lasted 19 hours.
- Some of the gags were based on the funny memories of costume designer Walter Plunkett, who began his career in 1929—during the dawn of sound cinema.
- Cyd Charisse had to learn how to smoke specifically for the "femme fatale" dance scene.
- The film was originally conceived as a remake of "Excess Baggage" (1928). And the opening credits reference "Hollywood Revue" (1929).
- For 19-year-old Debbie Reynolds, who had already played several roles in films, this movie was supposed to be a breakthrough in her career. To avoid being late for filming, Debbie, who lived with her parents at the time, had to get up at 4 am and travel to the studio on three different buses. Sometimes she would even nap right on the set. In addition, she gave herself so completely during filming that blood vessels in her legs would burst during dance rehearsals. Later, Reynolds said that filming this movie and carrying a child were the two most exhausting things she had to endure.
- One of the scenes between Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen is based on a similar scene between Bebe Daniels and John Boles in the film “Rio Rita” (1929).
- The downfall of Lina Lamont, a silent film star who failed to adapt to the advent of sound, only appeared as a comedy on screen. In reality, sound in cinema destroyed more than one career. For example, Gene Kelly had several conversations with Buster Keaton to better understand how devastating sound was for the star of “silent comedy.”
- The original film negatives were lost in a fire.
- First, all the songs for Stanley Donen's film were written. Then the screenplay was created, ensuring that the songs were organically integrated into it.
- It was precisely because of her youth that Debbie Reynolds landed the role of Kathy Selden. MGM Studio really wanted to cast someone more famous, such as Judy Garland, June Allison, or Jane Powell, but they were all considered "too old" for the role of Kathy.
- The role of Cosmo Brown was originally written for Oscar Levant. However, Donald O'Connor played it.
- Stanley Donen reused some of the costumes from the film in his other movie – 'Deep in My Heart' (1954).
- Some gags were based on funny memories of costume designer Walter Plunkett, who began his career in 1929 – during the dawn of sound cinema.
- MGM Studios wanted to cast Howard Keel in the lead role.
- Most of the costumes worn by Gene Kelly on screen parody his own roles in the films 'The Three Musketeers' (1948), 'The Pirate' (1948), 'On the Town' (1949), 'An American in Paris' (1951), and others.
- In the film, Kathy (Debbie Reynolds) dubs the talentless actress Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen). However, in reality, almost all the songs that Reynolds performs on screen were sung off-screen by singer Betty Noyes. Only in one scene does Debbie sing the song “Happy Star” herself.
- After Gene Kelly performed the famous dance in the rain, he contracted pneumonia.
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