Singin' in the Rain

Starring:Cyd Charisse, Mae Clarke, Harry Cody, Douglas Fowley, Lance Fuller, Jean Hagen, Joi Lansing, Millard Mitchell, Rita Moreno, Donald O'Connor, Dorothy Patrick, Debbie Reynolds, Shirley Jean Rickert, Dennis Ross, David Sharpe, Elaine Stewart, Jimmy Thompson (IV), Bobby Watson
Director: Stanley Donen
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com essential video

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

Description

Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds in 45th-anniversary restoration of the best-loved Hollywood musical ever-filled with memorable songs, lavish routines and Kelly's fabulous song-and-dance number performed in the rain.

Customer Reviews:

Deserving of Its Classic Fame.......2007-07-06

There's a reason this movie has earned so many accolades in the industry. It's a very tongue in cheek view of how the movie industry converted over from silent pictures to talking films. In this story, a romantic on-screen couple - played by Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen - have made many successful films together. Unfortunately for her, she has a high, squeaking Brooklyn accent that does not go with her glamorous movie image. When the studio tries to put together its first talking picture, the preview results involve laughter in the aisles.

Gene decides to bring in his less known girlfriend, played by Debbie Reynolds, to dub in the singing and talking. In between the plot, you get a variety of musical numbers - from the classic dancing-in-the-street song done by Gene Kelly (with a fever of 103) - to numerous other romantic numbers, show numbers, comedy numbers and more.

A true test for any movie is if it's enjoyable many years later. That's true with this movie, with a caveat. Many of the movie's scenes and costumes are deliberately making fun of other earlier Gene Kelly movies. The silent film is from his actual Three Musketeers footage, and there are many other in-jokes. If you watched this back in 1952, having grown up watching all of the other movies, all of the jokes would have been hilarious and immediately recognizeable. It would be like, in modern times, watching 'Scary Movie' and understanding all the references and jokes about other movies. However, in current times, few people have watched all of the Gene Kelly and other period movies in a row. So while we enjoy the movie's obvious charms, we miss a lot of those hidden messages.

Still, there's a ton to enjoy in here even for first timers. The skill of the dancers is quite apparent, and the costumes are great, too. There are many dialogue bits which are laugh out loud funny. And, in a time when many movies are completely inappropriate for kids, this one is family-friendly through and through.

Highly recommended!

Old Hollywood amazes again...........2007-04-24

This is known as the greatest musical ever made, and if it isn't the greatest, it's certainly one of the top five. I love this movie. The dance numbers are amazingly filmed and choreographed, and it's nice to see Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly actually leave their camera linger and not constantly cut away (via MTV style), so we can see everyone dance (and, man, can they dance). The film has a very sly, sarcastic humour (especially Gene Kelly's "dignity" speech at the beginning), but the humour is never overly nasty, like much humour is today. The film is actually quite realistic in its depiction of Hollywood's transition to sound (which was chaotic in many respects), and it has probably the most positive portrayal of a studio head in film history. The final Broadway ballet sequence is a movie in itself. It goes on for 15 minutes or so, and feels like an art film contained in a Hollywood musical. The only other musical sequence that comes close is the final sequence in An American in Paris. The ballet sequences in Powell and Pressburger's The Red Shoes is like it too. All the performances are really good, especially Donald O'Connor as Kelly's sidekick. His Make 'Em Laugh song shows off his amazing dancing abilities. This film is as great as you've heard, and I really love the Hollywood musical era. Sure as heck beats the musical MTV era by miles....

LOVE it........2007-04-23

One of the best movies of all time, and a musical even for those who don't like musicals. You must watch this feel-good movie at least once in your life. Ostensibly, the plot is about the transition a film company and some actors must make from silent film to sound movies. But the real attraction is the many amazing dance and music sequences, especially Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" routine.

A wonderful musical and story.......2007-03-29

It was a treat to see this great musical again! The songs are wonderful and get stuck in your head. The dancing is amazing and mesmerizing to watch. I'm so glad that such a cinematic display as enhanced on this dvd can now be available to myself and many other fans who never want to forget what a wonderful time it was when Kelly and other stars triumphed on the big screen.

Singin' in the Rain.......2007-03-27

I haven't watched this DVD yet, but it looks to be in excellent condition.

Essential Classics - Musicals (My Fair Lady / Singin' in the Rain / Gigi)

Average customer rating:

Essential Classics - Musicals (My Fair Lady / Singin' in the Rain / Gigi)
Starring: Essential Classic Musicals
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( E ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Essential Classics - American Musicals (The Music Man / Meet Me in St. Louis / Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)
Essential Classics - Romances (Gone with the Wind / Casablanca / Doctor Zhivago)
The Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection [Remastered] (The Sound of Music / The King and I / Oklahoma! / South Pacific / State Fair / Carousel)
Essential Classics - Dramas (The Maltese Falcon / Citizen Kane / Ben-Hur)
American Movie Musicals Collection: West Side Story/Fiddler on the Roof/Guys and Dolls

ASIN: B000MV9O4U
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Description

Disc 1: MY FAIR LADY Disc 2: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Disc 3: GIGI

Gene Kelly Collection (Singin' in the Rain / An American in Paris / On the Town / Anatomy of a Dancer)

Average customer rating:

Great classics
Gene Kelly Collection
The Best Musical Ever
I Love Gene Kelly!
It could be better

Gene Kelly Collection (Singin' in the Rain / An American in Paris / On the Town / Anatomy of a Dancer)
Starring: Gene Kelly
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Musicals & Performing Arts | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Astaire & Rogers Collection, Vol. 1 (Top Hat / Swing Time / Follow the Fleet / Shall We Dance / The Barkleys of Broadway)
That's Entertainment! The Complete Collection
Anchors Aweigh
The Humphrey Bogart Collection (The Big Sleep/The Maltese Falcon/Casablanca/Key Largo)
The Hepburn & Tracy Signature Collection (Woman of the Year / Pat and Mike / Adam's Rib / The Spencer Tracy Legacy)

ASIN: B00006JMSZ
Release Date: 2002-09-24

Amazon.com

The Gene Kelly Collection is an unbeatable selection of DVDs showcasing the marvelous Gene Kelly, the Pittsburgh kid whose ballet shoes burst with muscle and ambition. Singin' in the Rain (1952) is everybody's favorite musical, a sarcastic spoof of the early days of talking pictures directed by Kelly and longtime collaborator Stanley Donen. (Ah, the joys of DVD: to be able to zap into the blissful title number or Donald O'Connor's "Make 'Em Laugh" at the touch of a button. Plus, the 2002 special edition is exceptional.) An American in Paris (1951), a dream project for Kelly and director Vincente Minnelli, is at its best in its glorious Gershwin numbers. Kelly's lengthy fantasy ballet, drenched in all the Technicolor MGM could muster, may have you thinking that this, after all, is why movies were invented.

Kelly and Donen forced MGM to let them shoot on location in New York for the exteriors of On the Town (1949), the movie that took musicals into the open air (and remained Kelly's favorite of his films). The spirited dancing and the wisecracking Comden-Green script make this an ebullient tale of three sailors on a 24-hour leave. The choreography plays multiple variations on the triangular team of Kelly, Jules Munshin, and a still-gawky Frank Sinatra. Finally, Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer (2002) is a terrific American Masters documentary, with oodles of superbly chosen (mint condition) film clips and interviews with many of Kelly's friends and colleagues. The emphasis is on how Kelly changed the image of the male dancer, complementing the aristocratic Fred Astaire with a more blue-collar, regular-Joe approach. It's an unblinking portrait, acknowledging the taskmaster behind the pearly grin. Those revelations make perfect sense when you see the astonishing dances: how could anyone this great not be a perfectionist? --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Great classics.......2007-05-08

Movies for all ages even the little one liked the music and dance

Gene Kelly Collection.......2007-01-18

For all Gene Kelly lovers, this is a great collection to watch and own. He is one of the two masters of the dance/musical genre (Fred Astaire being the other). The dance sequence in "Singing in the Rain" gives me goosebumps everytime I watch it. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Also the documentary On the Town/Anatomy of a Dancer was very interesting. Enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Best Musical Ever.......2006-11-24

The first time I saw Singing in the Rain I wanted to see it over and over agin. It was the most greatest musical and romance movie I ever seen. I loved the movie so much that I really really want to watch it again. it is the best black and white movie I ever saw. the last time I saw the movie it was on channel 13 or (Kera). I liked to watch the musical part the most, it's the best part. I hope I could see the movie again on Kera channel.

I Love Gene Kelly!.......2006-07-15

I grew up with Gene Kelly performances and so this box set is wonderful. "Singin' on the Rain" is one of his classics, as well as one of his best performances. "On the Town" and "An American in Paris" are suberb too, highlighting Kelly's different strengths. I especially liked "Anatomy of a Dancer" though because it shed light on Kelly's life that I did not know. As such I grew to respect him and his work even more. I highly recommend it for Gene Kelly followers and musical lovers alike!

It could be better.......2005-09-22

The sound track for "On The Town" didn't work at all. The sound track for the other two was very uneven. Too loud, then too soft. Apparently it was still at theater levels. That should be easily repaired.
These wonderful movies are worth a re-do.

Average customer rating:

Deserving of Its Classic Fame
Old Hollywood amazes again....
LOVE it.
A wonderful musical and story
Singin' in the Rain

Singin' in the Rain
Starring: Cyd Charisse , Mae Clarke , Harry Cody , Douglas Fowley , and Lance Fuller
Director: Donen, Stanley
Manufacturer: MGM (Warner)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

My Fair Lady
The Music Man (Special Edition)
West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Casablanca

ASIN: 0792833686
Release Date: 1997-03-26

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Deserving of Its Classic Fame.......2007-07-06

Old Hollywood amazes again...........2007-04-24

LOVE it........2007-04-23

A wonderful musical and story.......2007-03-29

Singin' in the Rain.......2007-03-27

I haven't watched this DVD yet, but it looks to be in excellent condition.

Singin' In The Rain - 2 DVD Multi-Language Subtitled Special Edition [Pal, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

Singin' In The Rain - 2 DVD Multi-Language Subtitled Special Edition [Pal, Region 2, Import]
Starring: Gene Kelly , Donald O'Connor , and Debbie Reyndols
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Singin' in the Rain (Two-Disc Special Edition)

ASIN: B000K5HOLS

Product Description

Multi-Language Special Edition. Audio Tracks: English, French, Italian. Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Spanish, Portugese, German, Romanian, Bulgarian. DVD Format: PAL, Region 2, reguires PAL compatible or multi-system DVD player. ------------ About the movie---------Singin' in the Rain is probably the most treasured musical in the history of cinema. It is essentially a satire on the dawning age of talking pictures, but that description doesn't begin to describe its importance in the hearts of film lovers, even those who can't otherwise stand musicals. Given its origins--producer Arthur Freed wanted a framework on which to hang a selection of the hits he'd written in the early part of his career with Nacio Herb Brown, many of which had themselves featured in early talkies--it should have been a mongrel of a picture. But somehow, with its combination of endearing performances, the razor-sharp script of Adolph Green and Betty Comden, instinctive direction from Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen and those delightful songs, it is triumphantly greater than the sum of its parts. Kelly's dance sequence, conceived for the title song, is an undiluted joy and remains an iconic cinema moment. But there is so much more to savour: Donald O'Connor's knockout vaudeville, Jean Hagen's hilarious Bronx-voiced leading lady and the honest charm of underrated Debbie Reynolds, crowned by Kelly's choreography for the Broadway Melody suite. No collection is complete without this.

Singin' In The Rain / Music Man (Special Edition) / My Fair Lady (Two-Disc Special Edition) - 3 Pack

Average customer rating:

Singin' In The Rain / Music Man (Special Edition) / My Fair Lady (Two-Disc Special Edition) - 3 Pack
Director: Gene Kelly , and George Cukor
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000SDXGPU

Product Description

Singin' In The Rain Comedy, romance, great musical number, stars at their best and a fond recreation of a bygone moviemaking era: Signin' in the rain has so much that it ranked a lofty 10th on the America Film Institute's 100 Best American Films list. "Gotta dancel!" sings star and codirector Gene Kelly. But the imperative of the film's storyline is gotta talk! Silents are giving way to talkies and a hooferturnedmatineeidol *(Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his buddy (Donald O'Connor), prospective lpadylove (debbie Reynold's) and shresih co star (Jean Hagen in hilarious Oscar nominated performance) Singin' in the Rain is pure singin, dancin', laughin', lovin', moviewatchin' job Special Features for Singin' In The Rain DVD New : Interective Menus, Scene Access, Frech Language: Mono, Spanish: Mono My Fair Lady (TwoDisc Special Edition) Disc 1: HighDefination transfer from the 1994 restoration picture and sound elements Commentary by art Director Gene Allen, Singer Marni Nixon, Restorers Robert A. Harris and James C. Katz Disc 2: Delight ful Documentary more loverly than ever: My fair lady then and now Alternate Audrey Hepburn vocal versions of show me and wouldn't it be loverly? Vintage Featurettes and archival footage of the production kickoff, the hollywood premiere and awards ceremonies Comments from Rex Harrison, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Martin Scorsese Show me galleries of production stills, sketches, documents, posters and more Theatrical Trailers of this and other learner and loewe musicals. The Music Man (Special Edition)DVD New Special Features: AllNew documentary right in river city: The making of meredith willsons "The Music Man" Introduction by Shirley Jones Soundtrack Remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Interective Menus Production Notes 2 Theatrical Trailers Scene Access Subtitles: English and French

Average customer rating:

Deserving of Its Classic Fame
Old Hollywood amazes again....
LOVE it.
A wonderful musical and story
Singin' in the Rain

Singin' in the Rain [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

My Fair Lady
The Music Man (Special Edition)
West Side Story (Special Edition DVD Collector's Set)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Casablanca

ASIN: B000057H8P

Amazon.com essential video

No one even bothers to argue about it any more--by any standard and international consensus, this is the best movie musical of them all. Its arcane, unlikely milieu is Hollywood during the transition in the late 1920s from silent to sound motion pictures. Its reason for being was producer Arthur Freed's desire to use the catalog of songs he had written with Nacio Herb Brown in the '20s and '30s for various shows and movies. But, ironically, it's now the soundtrack that seems cobbled together from disparate sources, while the movie itself remains seamless. That's thanks to a literate screenplay by Adolph Green and Betty Comden and ebulliant acting and dancing by the young Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Jean Hagen is especially brilliant as the silent-screen star whose speaking voice is so screechy she has to be dubbed for talkies. Kelly codirected with Stanley Donen, and both can take credit for a masterpiece. Musical standouts are "You Were Meant for Me," "Good Morning" and "All I Do Is Dream of You." Visually, the indelible image will always be Kelly sloshing around in puddles while singin' in the rain. That said, this coupling of video with a definitive version of the soundtrack benefits from Rhino's meticulous reconstruction of the material and extensive annotations, which only enhance our grasp of this film and musical legend's gestation. ---Robert Windeler

Customer Reviews:

Deserving of Its Classic Fame.......2007-07-06

Old Hollywood amazes again...........2007-04-24

LOVE it........2007-04-23

A wonderful musical and story.......2007-03-29

Singin' in the Rain.......2007-03-27

I haven't watched this DVD yet, but it looks to be in excellent condition.

Singin' In The Rain / Brigadoon (2 Pack)

Average customer rating:

Singin' In The Rain / Brigadoon (2 Pack)
Director: Gene Kelly , and Vincente Minnelli
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Singin' In The Rain No one even bothers to argue about it any moreby any standard and international consensus, this is the best movie musical of them all. Its arcane, unlikely milieu is Hollywood during the transition in the late 1920s from silent to sound motion pictures. Its reason for being was producer Arthur Freed's desire to use the catalog of songs he had written with Nacio Herb Brown in the '20s and '30s for various shows and movies. But, ironically, it's now the soundtrack that seems cobbled together from disparate sources, while the movie itself remains seamless. That's thanks to a literate screenplay by Adolph Green and Betty Comden and ebulliant acting and dancing by the young Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds. Jean Hagen is especially brilliant as the silentscreen star whose speaking voice is so screechy she has to be dubbed for talkies. Kelly codirected with Stanley Donen, and both can take credit for a masterpiece. Musical standouts are "You Were Meant for Me," "Good Morning" and "All I Do Is Dream of You." Visually, the indelible image will always be Kelly sloshing around in puddles while singin' in the rain. That said, this coupling of video with a definitive version of the soundtrack benefits from Rhino's meticulous reconstruction of the material and extensive annotations, which only enhance our grasp of this film and musical legend's gestation. Brigadoon Comedy, romance, great musical numbers, stars at their best and a fond recreation of a bygone moviemaking era: Singin' in the rain has so much that it ranked a lofty 10th on the American Film Institute's 100 Best American Films List. "Gotta dance!" sings star and codirector Gene Kelly. But the imperative of the film's storyline is gotta talk! Silents are giving way to Talkies and a hooferturnedmatineeidol (Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his buddy (Donald O'Connor), prospective ladylove (Debbie Reynolds) and sharewish costar