Singin’ in the Rain is now considered a film classic, categorized as a “near-perfect” musical, although at the time it was made, it didn’t receive much critical acclaim. It’s interesting in that it is a film that is a commentary on film. Made in 1952, it portrays the challenges faced by filmmakers as they struggled to make a new technological innovation financially and artistically viable. It represents the development of cinema itself, even having protagonist Don Lockwood perform in a vaudeville performance.
The structure of Singin’ in the Rain is interesting because it was MGM producer Arthur Freed’s exhibition of hits from the 1929-1939 period. As such, the film re-used and re-contextualized many old musical hits. One of these was the titular song, “Singing in the Rain.” The song was originally performed in the film musical The Hollywood Revue of 1929 as both a song in the film, and a special Technicolor finale piece.
While “Signing in the Rain” as performed in the 1952 film drew many elements from the 1929 performance, it was not simply a rip-off of the original. If anything, Singin’ in the Rain paid homage to the 1929 Hollywood version, while updating the way the song was presented. Part of it was in the technical aspects of filming: the original song was filmed from a fixed camera that showed the entire stage, while the 1952 version had a camera that moved with Don Lockwood down the street. But the 1952 version also updated it by personalizing the presentation--the viewer focused on Don Lockwood as opposed to a more Broadway production of nameless crowd of dancers in the original. In addition, the 1952 version made the performance of the song more emotionally resonant by placing it into the context of a love story. As Don Lockwood sings, the sun is truly in his heart as “he’s ready for love.”
To check out the video this report is based on, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe60AkZd0WQ
Written by:
Kristen Nelson
Lily Parrish
Ariel Sobel
Rachel Victor
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